By Nicole Nelson

Names like Leroy “Shotgun” Sandifer and Walter “Rock” Greene  may be unfamiliar to some people, but they are just some of the men who had a profound influence on America’s favorite past time. They played baseball for the Negro Sandlot Washington Black Sox, which was owned by Doffey Jones.

Sandifer, Greene, along with Wilbur Donaldson, Roland “Tiny” Grimes, Ben Jones Jr. and Albert Weems played for the team between the 1940s and 1950s. It was a time when few African-Americans played for the American League teams not because they lacked the skills, but because of racial segregation.  For many men who played in the Negro Leagues, their athleticism and incredible knowledge of the game’s fundamentals went unrecognized for decades.

But on August 14th, 2008, Donaldson, Greene, Grimes, Jones, Sandifer and Weems received one of the highest honors by being inducted into the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame. Their names were added to the rolls of Negro Sandlot League members who made great contributions to the game. The ceremony, which was held at the Four Points by Sheraton in New Carrollton, paid homage to each man’s baseball career as an individual and collectively.

“I’m very beholden to those who thought far enough ahead to give us the recognition that I think so many of us deserved it was beautiful,” said Wilbur Donaldson.

Dwayne Sims, the founder and CEO of the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame, says giving these men their deserving recognition is critical to preserve both African American baseball history as well as American baseball history.

“This celebration of living history marks a major milestone in the lives of these remaining living legends that played baseball despite the adversities of their time,” Sims said. 

The induction coincided with Negro League Legends Hall of Fame week, which has been celebrated during the third week of August since 2006. Along with the induction ceremony, there was a VIP reception at the Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grill, where space was provided for the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame wall, salute to the “Negro Leagues” a pictorial exhibit of Negro League players was unveiled. The week ended with a Gospel tribute at the historic Saint Paul Church in Prince George’s County, the oldest African-American Baptist church in the county.

NEGRO LEAGUE HALL OF FAME HISTORY AND PURPOSE: 

In 2003, Ardmore Elementary school in Prince George’s County hosted the Ceremonial induction of 49 Negro Major, Minor and barnstormers into the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame.

In 2006, The National Conference of Black Mayors adopted a resolution to salute the Negro League legacy during the third week in August, which was named “Negro League Legends Hall of Fame Week”.

The vision of the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame (NLLHOF) is to be an authority and an educational site for young and old on the contributions of the Colored Professional and Negro League, the legendary players of both leagues while exploring the rich history of American Baseball. They were pioneers in more ways than just proving to be extraordinary athletes. From the Negro leagues were born some of the greatest baseball players to have played the game. While segregation kept them from playing in the white major leagues until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the modern era, the Negro league drew crowds of fans that during those days sold out the many venues. The Negro League Legends Hall of Fame will showcase the phenomenon of the Negro Baseball League.

For more information about the Negro League Hall of Fame visit www.nllhof.org.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HONORS BLACK SOX PLAYERS
Article written by Nicole Nelson

It is said that the Washington Black Sox, a Negro Sandlot League team, was one of the first teams of color to play on the Ellipse in the nation’s capital, a distinction usually reserved for white teams. The game took place during the 1960s at the height of the civil rights movement when racial tensions were at a boiling point. Unfortunately, that little known fact is not documented. It is only preserved through the oral history of the players who actually played that day.

The Negro League Legends Hall of Fame was presented a Ceremonial proclamation by District City councilman Harry Thomas and Council members at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania avenue, D.C. on October 1st to officially salute the team and players inducted in to the NLLHOF, recognized for being one of the first team of color to play in the baseball league at the Ellipse in the District of Columbia, during John F. Kennedy Presidency. Many of the Black Sox team members who were recently inducted into the Negro Leagues Legends Hall of Fame were on hand to receive the honor, who played prior to 1959 the year that the last major league baseball team Boston Red Sox integrated with black player Pumpsie Green.  Doffey Jones, the founder and manager of the Black Sox, was posthumously recognized for his service.

Dwayne Sims, the founder and CEO of the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame, said the recognition is important to continuing the legacy of the Negro baseball players.

“We must preserve the rich legacy of the African American contribution to America’s game, baseball,” Sims said. “Their achievements and perseverance against the odds when denied the right to play base in the major leagues provide a true educational value for our children to emulate.” 

During the proclamation ceremony the new Negro League Legends Hall of Fame motor coach was unveiled. The motor coach features pictures of the Colored Professional and Negro League teams on the outside. It is primarily used for transporting Negro League players to speaking engagements and educational tours, but it is available for the general public to tour historic African American sites in the District while viewing the NLLHOF documentary titled “They Played Baseball.”

After the proclamation ceremony, the Washington Black Sox players and their guest toured the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum exhibit “Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia.” located at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. The exhibited ended on Sunday, October 5th.

For information on booking the motor coach for a tour contact Professional Transportation at 301-292-4848.

For more information about the Negro League Hall of Fame visit www.nllhof.org
To view pictures of the NLLHOF click here