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NYPL Brooklyn Cyclones

Brooklyn Cyclones To Host Negro League Tribute

August 3, 2004 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release


Brooklyn NY, August 3, 2004 - The Brooklyn Cyclones are hosting a Negro League Tribute on Saturday, August 7th. The Cyclones want to honor the Negro League players who never truly received the national recognition for being the great athletes they were. Good tickets to Saturday's game are still available by calling 718-507-TIXX or going online at www.brooklyncyclones.com.

There will be a special pre-game reception and ceremony to pay tribute to former Negro League players, Jim Robinson and Armando Vazquez. On field, the Cyclones players will be wearing Brooklyn Royal Giants jerseys which will be auctioned off throughout the game. Proceeds from the silent auction will go to the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation.

The Royal Giants were organized in 1905 by the owner of the popular Brooklyn Royal Café. The Giants won championships in 1909, 1910, 1914 and 1916. Their pitching staff featured the unstoppable duo of Hall of Fame "Smokey" Joe Williams, also known as "The Cyclone," and "Cannonball" Dick Redding.

"The Negro League players had a tremendous impact on baseball. They broke barriers and paved the way for so many future athletes. We are honored to pay tribute to them here in Brooklyn," said Steve Cohen, General Manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

In the early 1900's, because blacks were excluded from Major League Baseball, they formed their own league. In 1920 the Negro National League was officially born and two years later the Eastern Black League was formed. The players of these Negro Leagues left their mark on baseball and on American society. They popularized bunting, stealing, and aggressive play. Batting helmets were introduced to the Negro League after Willie Mays was hit in the head, as was night baseball because the Negro Leagues were itinerant and had rain delays. And through the sport, the Negro Leagues helped to break down racial barriers across the country.

Jim Robinson, Armando Vazquez and many other black baseball heroes went unnoticed by white America until 1947 when the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson. He broke the color barrier and opened Major League Baseball to all men. Jackie Robinson was the first Negro League player to make the transition and he was followed that same year by Larry Doby and Monte Irvin when they joined the Cleveland Indians and the New York Giants, respectively. In 1952, Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron was signed by the Boston Braves. The demise of the Negro Leagues was inevitable as the color barrier was broken and young black players were signed by white major league franchises. It is hard to imagine what baseball would be like today if Robinson had not paved the way and broken barriers.

The Brooklyn Cyclones will be honoring the former Negro League players with a pre-game reception in the Brooklyn Baseball Gallery with Jim Robinson, Armando Vazquez and their families. The reception will be followed by a ceremony in which a video on the history of the Negro League will be shown on the field. Armando and Jim will then both throw out pitches to start the game.

About the Players

Cuban born seventy-eight year old Armando Vazquez played first and second base for the Indianapolis Clowns, Cincinnati Clowns, Havana La Palomas, New York Cubans, and Cuba and Mexico City Tigers from 1944 to 1955. In 1952, he tutored shortstop and current team member Hank Aaron. Jim Robinson was born on January 21, 1930 and played second base and shortstop for the Negro League All-Star Team throughout the 1950s. He played for the Philadelphia Stars, the Indianapolis Clowns, and the Kansas City Monarchs. Jim was enshrined in the Wall of Honor at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

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