Remembering the Negro Leagues
In 2014, the Charlotte Knights began playing in Uptown Charlotte. For the first time since 1988, professional baseball was back in Charlotte (the team left Charlotte and played in Fort Mill, SC from 1989 to 2013).
With the inaugural season at Truist Field (then BB&T Ballpark), the Knights started many new traditions. One of the great events the Knights added to their yearly promotional calendar was a Tribute to the Negro Leagues.
Thanks to help from Eddie G.G. Burton — a Charlotte native and a player in the Negro Leagues — the Knights began their commitment to honoring the players, their families and league historians.
Each year, the Knights — with help from Burton — welcomed former players and honored them in a pre-game ceremony. Additionally, the Knights welcomed Ray Banks, who brought his traveling Negro Leagues Museum. The night was special each year.
Along with the traveling museum on the concourse, the honorees of the night were also available to talk to fans and sign autographs.
MORE ON EDDIE G.G. BURTON: Burton was very passionate about telling his story and the story about the Negro Leagues. His first season playing in the Negro Leagues was 1947 — the same year that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. He played with many legendary players, including Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.
Sadly, Eddie passed away on Monday, October 22, 2018 at the age of 88. More about Eddie’s legacy and his contributions to the Negro Leagues here: Mourning the Passing of Eddie G. G. Burton.
We honored Eddie with help from his family and friends at our 2019 Negro Leagues celebration game.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STATEMENT: Most recently, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the Negro Leagues would officially be elevated and recognized as “Major League”. More on the official announcement here: MLB officially designates the Negro Leagues as ‘Major League’.
That evening, I was on Charlotte Sports Live on FOX 46 and gave my “QC Crown” to Eddie G.G. Burton. You can watch that below…
This month, the Negro Leagues are once again being honored by many as part of Black History Month — especially in the Charlotte area.
Recently, Michael Turner Webb, a local Negro Leagues historian, & Gaile Dry-Burton (wife of the late Eddie Burton), sat down with Josh Sims of FOX 46 at Truist Field for a story.
You can watch the story from Josh below…
On Spectrum News, Reuben Jones recently talked to Webb as well as former Negro Leagues player Bill Cathcart, who has been a frequent honoree as the Charlotte Knights Tributes to the Negro Leagues.
You can watch the full interview from Spectrum News Charlotte below…
Nick Carboni of NBC Charlotte took a look at the rich history of the Negro Leagues in the Charlotte area. He also spoke to Webb. You can watch that story below…
I’ll have more on the Negro Leagues throughout the course of this year. Stay tuned!
