H. Res. 162
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
March 6, 2007.
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 pro-
fessional 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; 
Whereas six separate baseball leagues, known collectively as 
the ‘‘Negro Baseball Leagues’’, were organized by Afri-
can 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, on February 13, 1920, at 
the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri, founded the 
Negro National League and also managed and played for
•HRES 162 EH 
the Chicago American Giants, and later was 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, 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 integra-
tion of baseball, and was later inducted into the Baseball 
Hall of Fame; 
Whereas Jackie Robinson, whose career began with the Kan-
sas City Monarchs of the Negro American League, be-
came the first African American to play in the Major 
Leagues in April 1947, was named Major League Base-
ball Rookie of the Year in 1947, subsequently led the 
Brooklyn Dodgers to 6 National League pennants and a 
World Series championship, and was later inducted into 
the Baseball Hall of Fame; 
Whereas Larry Doby, whose career began with the Newark 
Eagles of the Negro National League, became the first 
African American to play in the American League in July 
1947, was an All-Star 9 times in the Negro Leagues and 
Major League Baseball, and was later inducted into the 
Baseball Hall of Fame; 
Whereas John Jordan ‘‘Buck’’ O’Neil was a player and man-
ager of the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Amer-
ican League, became the first African American coach in 
the Major Leagues with the Chicago Cubs in 1962,
•HRES 162 EH 
served on the Veterans Committee of the National Base-
ball Hall of Fame, chaired the Negro Leagues Baseball 
Museum Board of Directors, and worked tirelessly to pro-
mote the history of the Negro Leagues; 
Whereas the talents of such players as James Thomas ‘‘Cool 
Papa’’ Bell and Oscar Charleston earned them recogni-
tion in the Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the Sporting 
News List of Baseball’s Greatest Players, but were all de-
nied admission to the Major Leagues due to the color of 
their skin; 
Whereas Minnie Min˜oso played in the Negro Leagues for sev-
eral years before being allowed to play in the Major 
League and was denied admission to the Hall of Fame, 
because during his prime years, he was a victim of racial 
discrimination; 
Whereas Autozone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, has been 
designated to host on March 31, 2007, the inaugural 
Civil Rights Game between World Series champions, the 
St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians in com-
memoration of the Civil Rights Movement; and 
Whereas by achieving success on the baseball field, African 
American baseball players helped break down color bar-
riers and integrate African Americans into all aspects of 
society in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the teams and players of the Negro 
Baseball Leagues for their achievements, dedication, sac-
rifices, and contributions to both baseball and our Na-
tion; and
•HRES 162 EH 
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
recognizing ‘‘Negro Leaguers Recognition Day’’. 
Attest:
Clerk.