FORMER NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL LEGENDS

May 21, 2011 - Wolff's Flea Market Palatine
WOLFF'S FLEA MARKET- ROSEMONT

* Autographs * Personal stories *  
* Memorabilia * Photo ops *

Bios and information provided by Gary Crawford.
• Hank "Baby" Presswood, 89, - Infielder played for legendary John "Buck" O'Neil, 2 years (1948 & 1949) with the Cleveland Buckeyes, 2 with the Kansas City Monarchs (shortstop & 3B 1950-1952),  Recently Hank was "drafted," by the Chicago White Sox. Topps created a new Ginter card and Hartland created a figurine of him in March of 2009.

• Johnny "Lefty" Washington, 81, - Morgan Park High School Grad, played for Ted "Double Duty" Radclif & finished the 1949 campaign with the Chicago American Giants. In 1950 he pitched for the Houston / New Orleans Eagles.  Johnny served his country in Korea (Marines) where he earned two Purple Hearts.  In 2009 his high school (Morgan Park, of Beverly, IL) retired baseball his jersey.

• Ray "Boo Boy" Knox, 80, - Catcher for the Chicago American Giants (1950). Illinois native. Attended Wheaton High School.  "They don't "boo" those (players) that are no good. They only "boo," those that can play." Played in the Industrial League (in Chicago's Washington Park) for Hardwood Sports.

• Nathan "Sonny" Weston, 80, - Bloom High School Graduate, three-sport athlete. Jerry Colangelo (former majority owner of Phoenix Suns, and D'Backs), Jim Boutin, and NFL star Bryant Young also attended Bloom. In 2009 Bloom retired Nathan's baseball jersey.  Sonny played in the outfield for Ted "Double Duty" Radcliff while with the Chicago American Giants. He was "last cut" on the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.

Louis "The Grey Cat" Clarizio Jr. 78, Chicago American Giants 1950-1951 (OF) 1st (of 3) "white" players to sign in baseball's Negro Leagues (1920-1960)  The only one still around today. Schaumburg, IL resident.

POSSIBLE:
Robert "Bob" Wiggins, 77- Played outfield for Raleigh Tigers in 1959 &1960, where he was also fortunate enough to have played with many of those featured in what was then called the 28th Annual (and officially last)  East-West Negro League All-Star Baseball Game. He was a part-time instructor for the Gary Railcats when the club first started. He lives in Argo Summit

• Julius "Satchel" Sledge and Heron "Lee" O'Neal live in south Chicago. Played together on the same Indianapolis Clowns teams.

Gary Crawford -Chief Operating Officer of www.NegroLeagueLegends.org  During the show, the site will celebrate it's 5th Anniversary! This site allows fans to read a few stories and see pictures from the back-in-the day through the current lives of these great men.  The site also allows people to buy a autographed memorabilia knowing the actual players will receive the Royalties. Lastly, it allows people such as "you," to book players for school appearances, ball games, fundraisers, etc.  Mr. Crawford also works in the Television Sports Media business doing research, statistics and graphics for such TV Networks as ESPN, CBS, NBC and FOX. 

Source: Gary Crawford   312-859-7788 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

FIRST TIME VENDORS AT WOLFF'S FLEA MARKET - PLEASE READ

VENDOR TIPS FOR WOLFF'S FLEA MARKET

WATCH YOUR WEIGHTS