Since April 15, 2004, Major League Baseball has celebrated Jackie Robinson Day. Every year on that day, players from all around the majors — and countless other teams from around Minor League Baseball — honor the legacy of Jackie Robinson by wearing #42 on their jerseys. Even more so, they stand for what Jackie Robinson stood for when he broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947 — equality.

Now, as the 75th anniversary of Jackie’s debut is on the horizon, baseball is set to celebrate his achievements and the Knights are planning a big Negro Leagues Night this year at Truist Field.

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS TRIBUTE TO THE NEGRO LEAGUES
In Charlotte, the Knights have honored the legacy of Jackie Robinson as well as the history of the Negro Leagues. Since 2014, the Knights have held a special Tribute to the Negro Leagues at the ballpark. At these games each season, all players on the Knights take the field in wear #42 on their jerseys and former players from the Negro Leagues come out to the ballpark to share their stories. In addition, a traveling museum is set up on the concourse by Ray Banks, a Negro Leagues historian. Local Negro Leagues historian, Michael Turner Webb, is also a part of the night to share the history of the Negro Leagues. It is truly a special game each year.

1ST NEGRO LEAGUES NIGHT IN 2014
The first Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Truist Field (then BB&T Ballpark) took place on April 15, 2014. As the Knights moved into their new Uptown Charlotte home just four days earlier, the ballpark was ready for new traditions. Thanks to the vision of Eddie G.G. Burton, a former player in the Negro Leagues and a Charlotte resident, the Knights began their yearly Tribute to the Negro Leagues tradition. With help from Eddie, the event grew each year. More celebrations, more players, and more important messages made it so special. I’m proud to say that it was because of Eddie’s tireless efforts that the event became one of the finest celebrations in all of Minor League Baseball.

A YEARLY TRADITION
Although the Knights have not always been home for a game on April 15, the team still always finds a date to honor Jackie and the Negro Leagues. The 2015 celebration took place on May 17 and it was the first time the team welcomed a total of four former players from the Negro Leagues. The 2015 celebration was also the first in which the Knights welcomed a traveling museum.

The Knights celebrated their 3rd Annual Negro Leagues Night on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, 2016 and their 4th Annual Negro Leagues Night on April 18, 2017. Each of these celebrations featured former players such as Carl Forney, a star pitcher from Belmont, who played in the Negro Leagues with teams such as the Charlotte Black Hornets and Indianapolis Clowns. Other former players such as Luther “Luke” Atkinson, Sam Allen, and Bill Cathcart made it a yearly tradition to visit the Knights for these special tribute nights.

Sadly, Forney passed away on December 16, 2017 and the 5th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Night, which took place on April 17, 2018, honored his memory. Carl’s grandson, Jordan, threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch. In addition, the Knights received a tremendous honor when Jackie Robinson’s daughter, Sharon Robinson, made a special appearance at the ballpark. The Knights presented Sharon with a #42 Knights jersey during an on-field ceremony.

TRIBUTE TO EDDIE G.G. BURTON
Sadly, the 5th Annual Negro Leagues Night was the final one for its founder, Eddie G.G. Burton. On Monday, October 22, 2018, Burton passed away at the age of 88. There since the beginning in 2014, the tribute nights could not have taken place each year without the work of Eddie. On Saturday, November 10, 2018, the Knights held a memorial service at the ballpark for Eddie.

In 2019, with the memory of Eddie GG. Burton on all of our minds, the Knights held their 6th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Night on April 9. On hand for this special tribute to the Negro Leagues and the memory of Eddie, were his wife, Gaile, and son, Keith. In an emotional ceremonial first pitch, Keith looked up to the heavens and threw out the pitch.

KEEPING THE HISTORY OF JACKIE AND THE NEGRO LEAGUES ALIVE
The Knights were scheduled to host their 7th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute during the 2020 season. With the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues that year, the celebration was one many looked for to attending. The team had many big plans for the game. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was first postponed and then ultimately cancelled. In 2021, with restrictions and many protocols still in place, the night was not held for a second consecutive year. That all changes this year as the Charlotte Knights 7th Annual Negro Leagues Night is set for Friday, April 15 on the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

Much like in past seasons, the Knights will continue to honor the memory of Jackie Robinson, Eddie G.G. Burton and all of the players who have paved the way.

APRIL 15 at TRUIST FIELD
Friday’s game will feature three former Negro Leagues players on-hand to meet fans and sign autographs. The three former players are Sam Allen, Wali Cathcart (Rock Hill, SC native) and Larry LeGrande. In addition, Johnson C. Smith University will have a table on the concourse to showcase the history of the school’s baseball program. Ray Banks, a Negro Leagues ambassador, will bring his customized historical museum from Baltimore for all fans to enjoy at the game. It features photographs, baseball gear and other artifacts. Michael Turner Webb, a local Negro Leagues historian, will also be on hand to share his knowledge with fans.

The evening will also serve as a tribute to former Negro Leagues player, Eddie G.G. Burton. Sadly, Burton passed away in 2018. He was a big part of putting this annual event together since 2014. His family will be honored during the pre-game festivities. In addition, former Major League Baseball pitcher and founder of the Carolinas Metro Reds, Morris Madden, will perform the National Anthem. The Knights players will wear #42 jerseys when they face the Memphis Redbirds at 7:04 p.m. at Truist Field.

This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson debuting for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking baseball’s color barrier. In honor of Robinson and many other players who pursued playing professional baseball despite the obstacles that were placed in their path, the Charlotte Knights would like to remember a few players from the Carolinas who were part of making the Negro Baseball Leagues a major league sport, even if it wasn’t properly recognized in their time.

The Taylor family out of South Carolina played a big role in the legacy of the Negro Leagues. The oldest of four Taylor brothers, C.I. Taylor, was born in 1875 in Anderson, SC. In 1904, C.I. founded the first all-black professional team in Birmingham, AL. As manager of the Birmingham Giants from 1904-1909, the eldest Taylor recruited his younger brothers Steel Arm Johnny, Candy Jim, and Ben to play for him. The youngest brother, Ben Taylor, finished his career in the Negro Leagues batting over .300 across 21 seasons. In 2006 Ben was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Another member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Buck Leonard, played from 1935 to 1948 for the Homestead Grays of the Negro National League. Leonard was born in Rocky Mount, NC in 1907. He was compared to Lou Gehrig early in his career. The comparison was not just for his smooth hits and bat swing that resembled Gehrig’s (which was intentional as the teenaged Leonard would take a train up to Washington, DC to watch his favorite player Gehrig and the Yankees play the Senators) but it was more so for his kind and gentle demeanor, which Gehrig was known to have. In 1972, Leonard was inducted into the Hall of Fame after a Negro Leagues career hitting over .340 and a 1.042 OPS.

Dave Barnhill pitched in the professional and semi-pro Negro Leagues and foreign baseball leagues from the mid-1930s up until 1948. Standing only 5’6” tall, one might not be ready for the heater (fastball) coming to the plate from the mound. Not only were batters scared of his fastball, but even Barnhill was quoted as saying he was worried he might hurt a batter. When asked about Barnhill, Cool Papa Bell said, “he threw smoke.” Barnhill was born in Greenville, NC. In 1943 the Pittsburgh Pirates asked Barnhill to tryout for the Major League team. Unfortunately, the Pirates owner canceled the tryout. This was 3 years prior to Jackie Robinson signing with the Dodgers. In 1948, the New York Giants offered Barnhill a Major League contract. In 1950, at age 36, Barnhill and the Minneapolis Millers (minor league team for the Giants) won the American Association Championship. He went 11-3 with a 3.60 ERA that season. Barnhill retired before ever getting a promotion to the New York Giants.

As most remember Jackie Robinson being the first player to break the color barrier in the Major Leagues, some may forget the first player to break the color barrier in the American League was South Carolina native Larry Doby. On July 5, 1947, Doby debuted for the Cleveland Indians becoming Major League’s second black player. Doby was born in Camden, SC before his family moved to New Jersey. While in high school at age 18, Doby began playing professional baseball for the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League. While serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Doby met Mickey Vernon, a star with the Washington Senators who was also serving in the Navy. Vernon is credited with encouraging Doby not to give up on baseball. In 1947, Bill Veeck and his Indians signed Doby to a Major League contract. In his last at-bat in the Negro Leagues, Doby hit a home run for Newark before leaving for Cleveland. After a 13-year career in Major League Baseball, Doby was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. Doby has won two World Series, the 1946 Negro League World Series with the Newark Eagles and the 1948 World Series with the Cleveland Indians.

There were many more players in the Negro Leagues who either played in the Carolinas or were born in the Carolinas that contributed to making the Negro Leagues a major league sport. The Negro Leagues helped Jackie Robinson take the steps to start the breaking of barriers in baseball, in sports, and in our society.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation, founded by Jackie’s wife Rachel, continues to help provide scholarship and leadership programs for minority students and is opening a Jackie Robinson Museum in New York this year.

Jackie Robinson Foundation: https://jackierobinson.org/

MLB’s recognition of the 75th anniversary: https://www.mlb.com/news/jackie-robinson-day-2022-commemoration