In 2007, I started writing letters to Negro League players that were still living. I told them how much I learned from their stories and how much I would cherish their autograph. It was a rewarding experience, I believe for both me and the player. 1/? @nlbmprez @JPosnanski
One of my favorites that I got back was from Emilio Navarro. Coincidentally, he received my letter on his 101st birthday. See what he wrote in the photo. 2/? 
Another was from Major League HOF’er, Monte Irvin. He sent me his phone number to find out where I got the card he signed. My wife made them for me to send. 3/?
It was fun to learn about an umpire in the Negro Leagues, with a flair for making calls. Robert Motley. 4/?
So nice, I wrote him twice! John “Mule” Miles. His letters were so nice. He also had a baseball card added to the Topps Allen&Ginter set. 5/?
Did you know Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks spent time in the Negro Leagues?
We received a beautiful letter from Arthur “Big Art” Simmons. He also wrapped his card in Saran Wrap in order to protect it.
8/? Pumpsie Green! He finally broke the color barrier for the Boston Red Sox in 1959. 12 years after Jackie Robinson.
9/? Joe B. Scott. He also had a Topps A&G card in 2007.
10/? Minnie Minoso! He sat behind @RealAmandaH and I at the first Tampa Bay Rays playoff game. They were playing the White Sox.
Willie Sheelor, Herald “BeeBop” Gordon, Dennis “Bose” Biddle. 11/?
12/? Sam Allen, Ron Teasley, Clinton “Butch”McCord, Ernest Johnson.
13/? Neale “Bono” Henderson, Carl Long, Thomas Turner, Arthur Hamilton.
14/? Herbert “Briefcase” Simpson. Mahlon Duckett, David Whitney, Jim Zapp.
15/? I did not get the opportunity to write these gentlemen. I got these in a shop right outside the Baseball HOF. Ray Dandridge, Judy Johnson, James “Cool Papa” Bell, Buck Leonard, Larry Doby, Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe.
16/? Some Satchel Paige! Autographed HOF Plaque card, 1949 Bowman Rookie, 1953 Topps, and World Series program from 1948, where he became the first black man to pitch in a World Series.
17/17 I learned so much from the stories of these men’s perseverance. Among many things learned, I carry the notion that we will not reach our true potential as a society until all are included, all genders, races, religions, etc. #BlackHistoryMonth #equality #negroleaguebaseball
Post Script 1/? A Negro Baseball yearbook from 1944.
PS 2/? The Jackie Robinson/Roberto Clemente shelf.
PS 3/? Willie Mays!
PS 4/? Bob Feller with Satchel Paige.
PS 5/? I tried to get all the rookie cards of the players that were first to break the color barrier on each ML team.
PS 6/? Some more cards of former Negro Leaguers that I love!
PS 7/? A bunch of autographs from Negro Leaguers, including Buck O’Neil!
PS 8/8 Thank you for the wonderful response. I hope players knew how much they are loved & appreciated. Their stories are so important to remember. Going to visit @nlbmprez in summer w/family! Love people I admire follow the museum: @soledadobrien @jemelehill @davidaldridgedc
PPS 1/1. Last one and you got all I got! 😊 On a business trip to Pittsburgh last year, I took time out to visit Josh Gibson’s final resting place. It is in the beautiful Allegheny Cemetery, on a grassy hillside where deer and birds and nature watch over it.
