III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 29 

Encouraging the recognition of the Negro Baseball Leagues and their players 

on May 20th of each year. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2007 

Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. REID, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. SPECTER, 

Mr. OBAMA, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. BROWNBACK, and Mr. MARTINEZ) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the recognition of the Negro Baseball Leagues 

and their players on May 20th of each year. 

Whereas even though African-Americans were excluded from 

playing in the Major Leagues of their time with their 

white counterparts, the desire of many African-Americans 

to play baseball could not be repressed; 

Whereas Major League Baseball did not fully integrate its 

leagues until July 1959; 

Whereas African-Americans began organizing their own professional baseball teams in 1885; 

Whereas the skills and abilities of Negro League players 

eventually made Major League Baseball realize the need 

to integrate the sport; 


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Whereas 7 separate baseball leagues, known collectively as 

the ‘‘Negro Baseball Leagues’’, were organized by African-Americans between 1920 and 1960; 

Whereas the Negro Baseball Leagues included exceptionally 

talented players who played the game at its highest level; 

Whereas on May 20, 1920, the Negro National League, the 

first successful Negro League, played its first game; 

Whereas Andrew ‘‘Rube’’ Foster founded the Negro National 

League on February 13, 1920, at the Paseo YMCA in 

Kansas City, Missouri, and also managed and played for 

the Chicago American Giants, and was later inducted 

into the Baseball Hall of Fame; 

Whereas Leroy ‘‘Satchel’’ Paige, who began his long career 

in the Negro Leagues and did not make his Major 

League debut until the age of 42, is considered one of 

the greatest pitchers the game has ever seen, and during 

his long career thrilled millions of baseball fans with his 

skill and legendary showboating, helping the Cleveland 

Indians win the pennant in his first big league victory beginning with his first game on July 15, 1948, and was 

later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; 

Whereas Josh Gibson, who was the greatest slugger of the 

Negro Leagues, tragically died months before the integration of baseball, and was later inducted into the Baseball 

Hall of Fame; 

Whereas Jackie Robinson, whose career began with the 

Negro League Kansas City Monarchs, became the first 

African-American to play in the Major Leagues in April 

1947, was named Major League Baseball Rookie of the 

Year in 1947, subsequently led the Brooklyn Dodgers to 

6 National League pennants and a World Series chamVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:39 Apr 27, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC29.IS SC29

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pionship, and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall 

of Fame; 

Whereas Larry Doby, whose career began with the Negro 

League Newark Eagles, became the first African-American to play in the American League in July 1947, was 

an All-Star 9 times in Negro League and Major League 

Baseball, and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall 

of Fame; 

Whereas John Jordan ‘‘Buck’’ O’Neil was a player and manager of the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs, became 

the first African-American coach in the Major Leagues 

with the Chicago Cubs in 1962, served on the Veterans 

Committee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, 

chaired the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Board of 

Directors, and worked tirelessly to promote the history of 

the Negro Leagues; 

Whereas James ‘‘Cool Papa’’ Bell played, coached, and managed in the Negro Leagues from 1922 to 1950, discovered, trained, and assisted numerous Negro League players into the Major Leagues, and was later inducted into 

the Baseball Hall of Fame; 

Whereas Minnie Minoso played in the Negro Leagues for several years before being allowed to play in the Major 

Leagues and was denied admission to the Hall of Fame, 

because during his prime years, he was a victim of racial 

discrimination; 

Whereas the talents of such players as Josh Gibson, James 

‘‘Cool Papa’’ Bell, and Oscar Charleston earned them 

recognition in the Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the 

Sporting News List of Baseball Greatest Players, but 


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they were denied admission to the Major Leagues due to 

the color of their skin; 

Whereas Autozone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, hosted the 

inaugural Civil Rights Game between the defending 

World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland 

Indians in commemoration of the civil rights movement, 

on March 31, 2007; and 

Whereas by achieving success on the baseball field, AfricanAmerican baseball players helped break down color barriers and integrate African-Americans into all aspects of 

society in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes the teams and players of the 

4 Negro Baseball Leagues for their achievements, 

5 dedication, sacrifices, and contributions to both 

6 baseball and our Nation; and 

7 (2) encourages the observation of Negro 

8 Leaguers Recognition Day on May 20 of each year. 

Æ 


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