FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle to Honor Baseball's Past

Published on July 15, 2009 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL (July 15, 2009) - The Fort Myers Miracle will pay tribute to baseball's history with a Salute to Negro League Night on Saturday, July 18 at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle host the Dunedin Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m.

Both teams will wear authentic Negro League uniforms as the Miracle will don replica jerseys of the Newark Eagles while the Blue Jays will be adorned in uniforms of the Homestead Grays.

The Newark Eagles were incepted in 1936 when the Newark Dodgers merged with the Brooklyn Eagles. The Eagles sported the likes of Hall-of-Famers Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, and Willie Wells.

The Newark Eagles had many standout players, but two entered the baseball history books: Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League (Cleveland Indians), and Don Newcombe, Brooklyn Dodgers rookie of the year, MVP and Cy Young award winner.

Doby was signed by Bill Veeck, whose son Mike is the Miracle's Vice Chairman. Doby said he was fortunate to have worked for Veeck and called him "probably the nicest and the greatest man that I ever met. He never showed any prejudice or bigotry or racism within himself. He fought for the little man, the underdog."

The Eagles were the first professional team owned and operated by a woman, Effa Manley. The 1946 team won the Negro World Series. Featuring the fierce double play combination of future Major Leaguers Doby (2B) and Monte Irvin (SS), they upset the Kansas City Monarchs in a 7-game series.

In 1900 a young group of men, who loved baseball, joined together to form the "Blue Ribbons" industrial league team. Unknowingly, these young men had founded a team which would grow to be a Negro National League franchise and set unprecedented records. For ten years the Blue Ribbons remained mediocre, but they managed to field a team every year and play some of the best sandlot teams in the area. In 1910, the managers of the team retired. The players reorganized the team and named themselves the Murdock Grays. In 1912, they became the Homestead Grays.

From 1937 to 1945 they won nine straight league pennants. They were led by future Hall of Famers Josh Gibson (C), "Cool" Papa Bell (OF), Judy Johnson (3B), Buck Leonard (1B) and Cuban great Martin Dihigo (2B, P, OF). Their ace pitcher was "Smokey" Joe Williams, who once struck out 27 batters in a 12-inning game.

Fans are encouraged to visit the Lee County Black History Museum's Negro League Baseball tribute which will be displayed on the stadium concourse, during the game.

For more information and tickets, please contact the Miracle at (239) 768-4210 or online at www.miraclebaseball.com.

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