MLB & MLBPA Honor Negro Leagues 101st Anniversary
July 2, 2021
Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have launched a new digital and social media campaign to support the ‘Negro Leagues 101’ initiative led by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM). NLBM is a US non-profit dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its profound impact on the social advancement of America and the sport.
Black Americans have played baseball since the game spread across the US during the Civil War. However, they were barred from the highest levels of organized baseball (beginning in the 1860s) by racist Jim Crow laws, segregation and unwritten agreements between team owners.
A dominant pitcher for the Leland Giants, Andrew "Rube" Foster, desired a league where Black athletes like himself could properly showcase their talents, and in 1920, he and his fellow team owners created the Negro National League (NNL). The NLL, which saw an estimated three million fans coming to their games over the years, was replaced by the Negro American League (NAL) in 1937. The NAL continued in popularity until one of its own, the Kansas City Monarchs’ Jackie Robinson, broke MLB’s color barrier in 1947.
In December 2020, MLB righted a wrong and finally recognized players from the Negro Leagues as major leaguers. After 100 years, all 3400 players – from 1920 to 1948 – were elevated to MLB status.
“We are proud to join the MLBPA in support of the ‘Negro Leagues 101’ educational initiative,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “The Negro Leagues is a story of excellence and resiliency by individuals who accomplished extraordinary feats in the face of bigotry and discrimination. Educating our fans and the public about this history will continue to be a priority for Major League Baseball in our continued support of Bob Kendrick and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.”
To commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Negro Leagues, MLB and MLBPA are releasing 101 facts, shared daily, through October 3 - the last day of the 2021 regular season. Each day’s fact will be unveiled by a Major League Player, Legend, youth baseball, softball player or general representative of baseball. It is in conjunction with the NLBM's educational initiative, which includes a series of programs, lectures, and events along with a exciting virtual learning experiences that includes a virtual tour of the NLBM.
“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is thrilled to have the support of Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association to help amplify this important educational initiative,” said Bob Kendrick, NLBM President. “I don’t think there was ever a time that people didn’t want to know about the Negro Leagues. They just simply had no way to know about this rich history because it has never been fully documented in the pages of American History books. Our goal is to provide even greater access to this incredible chapter of baseball and Americana.”
A dedicated landing page and NLBM's Twitter account (@NLBMuseumKC) will be the primary sources of the content, supported by MLB, MLBPA and individual clubs social platforms. The musuem also unveiled its Negro Leagues 101 logo, which will become the permanent symbol for all NLBM educational programs and initiatives, including the development of an Introduction to the Negro Leagues 101 college-level course.
“A full understanding of Baseball includes knowing the history and legacy of the men and women in the Negro Leagues who paved the way for so many of us,” siad MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark.
MLB is a Founding Supporter of Beyond Sport.