Bill > AR144

Introduced Session

This resolution urges Major League Baseball to adopt a Negro Leagues Day across baseball to be recognized on May 2 of each year. Even though African-Americans were excluded from playing in the Major Leagues of their time with their white counterparts until Major League Baseball fully integrated its leagues in 1959, the desire of many African-Americans to play baseball could not be repressed. African-Americans began organizing their own professional baseball teams in 1885 and seven separate baseball leagues, known collectively as the "Negro Baseball Leagues," were organized by African-Americans between 1920 and 1960. On May 2, 1920, the Negro National League, the first successful Negro League, played its first game. The talents of players such as Josh Gibson, James "Cool Papa" Bell, and Oscar Charleston earned numerous Negro Leagues players recognition in the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Sporting News List of Baseball's Greatest Players. With the integration of Negro Leagues statistics from over 2,300 players into Major League Baseball history in 2024, these players have taken their rightful place as leaders in various categories of baseball statistics. New Jersey has been at the forefront of several contributions to the Negro Leagues, including being home to the Newark Eagles and hosting games across the State played by various National Baseball Hall of Fame players who were part of the Negro Leagues. Under the ownership of Effa Manley, who is the only woman inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Abe Manley, the Newark Eagles played from 1936 to 1948 and won the Negro World Series in 1946. A plaque was placed at Memorial Field in Belmar, New Jersey to commemorate Josh Gibson's "legendary 600-foot home run that reached the backyard of the Belmar Post Office," which could be the longest home run ever witnessed. Since the first game of the National Negro Baseball League that was played on May 2, 1920, the Negro Leagues positively impacted the sport of baseball and, by achieving success on the baseball field, African-American baseball players helped break down color barriers and integrate African-Americans into all aspects of society in the United States.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Azzariti (R)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 06/17/2024)

Official Document