Celebrity Autographs And Celebrity Addresses

Members of the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame kept a whirlwind schedule of recognition activities over the May 13-14, 2005 weekend to promote the opening of Negro League Legends Hall of Fame Center scheduled for the fall. The celebration began with their first Annual Spring Golf Benefit and concluded with a black-tie dinner, silent auction, and a autograph signing at the Largo Hotel Saturday evening.

The oldest “living legend,” 102-year-old Ted “Double Duty” Radcliff was featured at the golf benefit. Radcliff played for the Washington Homestead Grays at Griffith Stadium. The Washington Nationals (DC’s new baseball team) saluted the Negro League Legends at RFK Stadium on Friday evening.

On Saturday, May 14, the public was invited for autograph signing and a chance to meet these great players at the World Gym in Largo, Md. Among the Negro League Legends present at the World Gym were:
Eddie Banks (Newark Eagles, played in the 50’s); Jimmie Bland (Indianapolis Clowns, 60’s); Al Burrows (Indianapolis Clowns, 50’s); Willie Fordham (Howard Giants, 50’s); Ernie Lewis (Memphis Red Sox, 50’s); Jake Sanders (Kansas City Monarchs, 50’s); James Tillman, Sr. (Homestead Grays, 40’s), and Jim Wheaton (Harrisburg Giants, 40’s).

Legend Jake Sanders said, “It is a good feeling to come back here. We played here years ago. Now we can tell our story of what happened back then.”

“I hope this will trigger more interest in baseball for young African Americans,” added Legend Jimmie Bland. “With the White House, Capitol, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials here, the visitors can add our new research center to their list of things to do.”

The ribbon cutting for the new center is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 8, 2005, Bland noted. The vision of the Negro League Legends Hall of Fame center is to educate the young and old about the contributions of the Negro League Legends in American baseball history.

These men were black pioneers in the field of baseball. Legend Willie Fordham pointed out, “There were a lot of places that we could not go, even to eat. A lot of black families helped us,” said Fordham.

“I remember there was a guy on our bus, Willie Red Harrison, who was very fair-skinned. He would go into some of the restaurants and get food for us,” recalled Jake Sanders.

“The Negro League was harder to play in than playing in the leagues today,” said legend Jake Sanders. “If you did not do your job, you had to go home. There was no farm team. There was always someone around to take your place. Also, the best in the Negro League played against the best in the (white) Major League. We beat them 90 percent of the time. You know back in the 40’s, some wanted to put four Negro teams in the Major Leagues, but the law would not allow it,” added Legend Sanders.

Ted “Double Duty” Radcliff, the oldest living legend, joined the group later for the black tie dinner and silent auction. The auction featured a reception, signed books, bats, baseballs, and hats available for bids.