Sacramento event honors Negro League players and showcases high school athletes
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Roots and Rising Stars Foundation is hosting its annual Honorary Negro League Game in Sacramento to honor the legacy of Negro League players and showcase the talents of Black high school athletes in the Sacramento region.
Players and spectators will have the chance to meet and learn from former MLB and Negro League players.
“You’ll be able to meet the coaches, meet the players, ask questions, get autographs, and listen to a lot of great stories,” said Todd Sullivan, who is now hosting the 7th game.
The weekend also serves as a tribute to former Negro League players like Donald “The Rook” Porter, who was scouted by the Indianapolis Clowns at 16 years old back in 1957.
“During segregation they wouldn’t allow us to play with the white players, so we formed our own league,” said Porter.
Porter lives in the Sacramento area, while his longtime friend Dennis “Bose” Biddle made the trip all the way from Milwaukee.
Biddle was scouted to play for the Chicago American Giants in 1953.
“Don and I are the two youngest ones; I’m 91 and Don is almost 90. He’s headed that way,” said Biddle.
Biddle said, to his knowledge, there’s fewer than ten former Negro League players still alive to share their stories, and the stories of their former teammates and coaches who faced many challenges playing during Jim Crow.
Todd Sullivan emphasized the importance of recognizing these players for their contributions.
“We’re just trying to give them as much flowers as possible and the recognition because they never had it when they were actually doing all the hard work and laying this foundation,” Sullivan said.
A meet-and-greet event will take place Saturday at Baker Family Wines from 2 to 5 p.m., and Sunday’s game begins at 1 p.m. at Sacramento State’s John Smith Field.
Click here to purchase tickets.
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