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Kansas City, MO - The story of Negro League baseball (left photo) is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. Most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about the unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball.
About the Negro Leagues Baseball stamp release: This Thursday, on July 15, 2010, in Kansas City, Missouri, the Postal Service™ will issue a 44-cent, Negro Leagues Baseball commemorative stamp in two designs, designed by Howard E. Paine of Delaplane, Virginia. The Negro Leagues Baseball stamp pays tribute to the all-black professional baseball leagues that operated from 1920 to about 1960. Considered the "father" of Negro leagues baseball, Andrew "Rube" Foster (1879-1930) established the Negro National League in 1920, the first successful league of African-American baseball teams. Although no longer a vital component of American baseball after about 1960, the Negro leagues led to lasting changes within the sport. The two-set stamps feature a scene painted by Kadir Nelson of San Diego, California.
Curtis Roberts, Sr. (center photo) a shortstop with the Monarchs, became the first black player for the Pittsburg Pirates. He was their opening day second baseman on April 13, 1954. Roberts had been signed by the Pirates' 72-year-old general manager, Branch Rickey. Roberts' son, Curtis Roberts, Jr., has been an active BDPA Member for over 20 years, and in his new leadership role at NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration,) Mr. Roberts remains a staunch supporter of District of Columbia-based JEF (Joint Educational Facilities, Inc.) and BDPA-DC's community-based STEM programs.
Although BDPA Members have been active in all sports throughout its rich 35-year history, this week we recognize Curtis Roberts, Jr., Dr. Daryl Stone (above, right photo) of Bowie State University, the young baseball players of the National Capital Region (NCR) participating with the "Potter Pirates" team on the Jeff Potter East Coast Baseball Tour this week in Maryland (shown below), and Columbia, Maryland-based Groupsite.com, BDPA-DC's 2010 Chapter Technology Sponsor of the Year for enhancing the launch of the baseball tour's inaugural Groupsite.
Did you know?
- Dr. Daryl Stone is a baseball coach for his son's teams, currently runs a summer computer camp for young African-American men at Bowie State University, hosts BDPA's Regional STEM Conference and Regional HSCC, provides scholarships for qualified HSCC and BDPA student members, is an active BDPA Member.
- Mr. Curtis Roberts successfully completed his Commerce Science and Technology Fellowship for 2008-2009 last year; coordinated site planning and logistics for most of BDPA's recent National Technology Conferences and National High School Computer Competition (HSCC).
- Wade Blair and Kyle Carter, a BDPA student member and volunteer photo-journalist for bdpatoday, will represent Prince George's County for the Potter Pirates against the Prince George's County All-Stars tomorrow evening, Wednesday, July 14th, 2010, 7:00 PM EDT at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. Contact Calvin or Linda for tickets at (301) 346-6800.
Join BDPA-DC Members, Dr. Stone, local sponsors and businesses for this fun-filled family event. BDPA Members also may contact (703) 627-8257 for group tickets. Bring plenty of business cards and invite young men and women interested in STEM programs or scholarship opportunities. Rain date is Thursday, July 15th.
Sources & photo credits:
Negro League Baseball Players Association, Bowie State University, US Postal Service, Potter Baseball Tour, and National BDPA. |
