A Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 29th, 3:00PM - 4:30PM
Digital Event
Featuring Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) with Brian LoPinto, President of Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium
In 1920, an organized baseball league structure was formed under the guidance of Andrew "Rube" Foster, a former player, manager, and owner for the Chicago American Giants. In a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Foster and a few other Midwestern team owners joined to form the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in Eastern and Southern states, bringing the thrills and innovative play of black baseball to major urban centers and rural country sides in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and became centerpieces for economic development in many black communities.
The stories of the NLBM are ones of triumph and inspiration. Bob Kendrick is one of the leading authorities on the topic of Negro Leagues Baseball history and its connection to issues relating to sports, race and diversity. He has been a contributing writer for “Ebony Magazine” and the National Urban League’s “Opportunity Magazine.” Brian LoPinto has been a tireless advocate for the restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium on Paterson, NJ. Join us for a stellar program celebrating the rich history of Black baseball and its profound impact on the social advancement of America.