Negro League baseball history to be honored by Worcester County NAACP, Delmarva Shorebirds
The Worcester County NAACP and the Delmarva Shorebirds have collaborated to celebrate the long history of Negro League baseball this coming Sunday.
On May 28, during the Shorebirds' home game against the Lynchburg Hillcats, Worcester County NAACP is set to honor Negro League baseball history, as well as players who came from the Eastern Shore, while also having former players in attendance.
Ivory Smith, the president of the Worcester County branch of the NAACP, hopes this opportunity will provide both an education on the history of Negro League baseball, especially for young people, as well as honor the trailblazers that paved the way for Black baseball players.
The Eastern Shore of Maryland has its own hand in the history of the Negro Leagues, as William "Judy" Johnson, widely considered one of the greatest third basemen in Negro League baseball history, was born in Snow Hill, Maryland, a fact that Smith hopes to highlight during Sunday's event.
"We just want to educate the kids, especially the young brothers and sisters, that this is a league too," Smith said in an interview with Delmarva Now. "Prior to Jackie Robinson, just imagine William 'Judy' Johnson making the major leagues as a third baseman... We know that Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt were probably the best third basemen, but there were other people that paved the way for them."
Former Negro League baseball players like Kansas City Monarch Sam Allen and Indiana Clowns pitcher Pedro Sierra are set to attend, as well as Negro Baseball Goodwill Ambassador Rayner Banks, who will bring his Negro League Baseball exhibit and George Eckles, whose Negro League merchandise is set to be on display for fans.
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This collaboration was something that was in the works last year between the NAACP chapter and the Shorebirds, but did not take place due to weather. But when the opportunity arose for them try again, both organizations jumped at the chance.
"Last year I had reached out to the Shorebirds and they were for it," Smith said. "This year they reached out to me and said, 'Hey, let's do this again' because the rain had got us (last year). They've been so supportive for this event, and I'm just happy that they reached out to me to do this event again, along with the McDonald's Corporation."
In addition to the game on Sunday, there will be a softball game between the Hubert V Simmons Negro League Baseball Museum Senior Men's Team and the Worcester County NAACP the following Monday at Stephen Decatur High School, a community event where Banks' Negro League Baseball exhibit will also be on display.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Worcester NAACP and Delmarva Shorebirds to honor Negro League baseball
