FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Pay Tribute to Negro Leagues on August 7

Published on August 4, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


The Negro Leagues played an important part in the history of professional baseball. This Sunday, August 7th, promises to be a special day at Hammond Stadium as the Miracle will be welcoming several players from Negro League teams of the past. In addition, there will be two former players from the Indianapolis Clowns, an original Negro League team that continued as a barnstorming team all the way through the late 1980's. The Clowns were the final link to Negro League teams of the past.

Included in Sunday's tribute will be first pitches by all of the participants on hand, and the opportunity for Miracle fans to meet and greet the former players and obtain autographs. A highlight of Sunday's festivities will be a pictorial display of Negro League Baseball History, which will be presented by Thomas English and Donald Borne. English founded and runs New Negro RNBI Baseball, an organization that promotes Negro League baseball history and has also been very active in promoting youth baseball in Florida.

Following is a roster of former players who will be attending Sunday's Negro League Tribute...

John Bagley - Was a player and manager in the Florida West Coast Negro League

1954-1957 Tampa Blue Sox

1958-1960 Tampa Giants

1960-1970 Tampa Pepsi Cola Giants

1976-1979 Tampa Dodgers

1980-1982 Tampa Raiders

Dave Clark - Dave spent his entire career from 1971 to present in professional baseball as a player, team owner, manager, coach, and scout. Dave is also one of the last known polio victims in the United States. Dave also managed in Sweden for ten years. He has been a major league scout since 1972, and he currently scouts for the Florida Marlins.

1975-1976 Indianapolis Clowns (player) - Led team in saves. Holds Clowns all-time single season record for saves.

1977 Bees (Gulf States League - Player)

1977 Pennington Pioneers (Tri State League)

1981-1982 Rattvik Bets (Swedish Major League - Player)

1984-1988 Indianapolis Clowns (Player-Owner)

Ken Dembo - Was a player in the Florida West Coast Negro League

1965-1970 Tampa Red Caps

1971-1975 U.S. Navy - Military Baseball

1976-1978 Tampa Red Caps

Tim Walsh - Tim played college baseball and football at Colgate University. He is currently completing a screen play on the Indianapolis Clowns 1988 season.

1988 Indianapolis Clowns - star pitcher who led the team in wins.

1988-1989 Morejon Industrials (Mexican League)

The Miracle take on the Dunedin Blue Jays at 1:05 PM this Sunday at Hammond Stadium. The gates open at noon.

The Miracle would like to Thank Dr. Layton Revel, Director of the Center For Negro League Baseball Research, who was instrumental in helping us put the event together.

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