Celebrating a Century of Inspiring Change
We are one of nearly 100 artists, makers, and small businesses standing together on our site and at NLBMart.com to tip our caps and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Negro Leagues. After a successful initial fundraising campaign in early October, the virtual art sale and benefit returns for the entire month of December. When you shop this limited edition collection from December 1-31, 2020, you become part of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate the rich history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America.
For this limited edition collection, we've created a series of customized Baseball BBQ tools that pay homage to 6 classic teams of the Negro Leagues, with laser-engraving of the teams and logos on the hardwood bat handles, which replicate the dimensions and feel of a well-made bat. When you purchase one of the Limited Edition NLBM Benefit Combo Sets between December 1-31st, we will donate 20% of each sale to support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Benefitting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
We see the story of the Negro Leagues as an important reminder of our divided past—and their 100-year anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate and be inspired by what unites us. The beneficiary of this campaign, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. The privately funded, 501 c3, not-for-profit organization was established in 1990 and is in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri’s Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.
About the Limited Edition Teams
Chicago American Giants
Established 1910 - 1956
Founded as an independent team by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster, the Chicago American Giants went on to become one of the winningest teams in black baseball. A charter member of the Negro National League, the American Giants won five pennants in the NNL, along with a pennant in the Negro Southern League. Notable players over the years included Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Bill Foster, Rube Foster, John Henry Lloyd, Turkey Stearnes, and Cristobal Torriente.
Homestead Grays
Established 1900 - c.1950
After playing for over a decade as an industrial league team playing sandlot games, the team became the Homestead Grays in 1912. Playing in the American Negro League, the East-West League and the Negro National League, the Homestead Grays played home games at both Pittsburgh's Forbes Field and Washington DC's Griffith Stadium (as its "home away from home"). In the Negro National League, the Homestead Grays won nine consecutive NNL Championships and three Negro League World Series titles. Notable players included Hall of Famers Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Ray Brown, Martin Dihigo, Bill Foster, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard, Cum Posey, Willie Wells, Smokey Joe Williams and Jud Wilson.
Kansas City monarchs
Established 1920 - 1965
The longest-running franchise of the Negro Leagues, the Kansas City Monarchs were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. Playing in Kansas City, Missouri, the Monarchs were one of the winningest teams of their time, with only one season without a winning record. The Monarchs took the first Negro League World Series in 1924 and held ten league championships before integration, producing more major league players than any other Negro League franchise. Notable Monarchs players included Ernie Banks, Cool Papa Bell, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Bill Foster, Jose Mendez, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Bullet Rogan, Hilton Smith, Turkey Stearnes, Cristobal Torriente, and J.L. Wilkinson.
New York Black Yankees
Established 1931 - 1948
Originally founded as the Harlem Black Bombers, the New York Black Yankees played in the Negro National League from 1936 to 1948. Though they played seasons in New York City and Rochester, NY, the Black Yankees called Paterson, NJ's Hinchliffe Stadium home for most of their history. Notable players included Satchel Paige, Fats Jenkins, Ted Radcliffe, George Suttles, Willie Wells, George Crowe and Carlos Ascanio.
New York Cubans
Established 1935 - 1950
Following on the earlier footsteps of the all-Hispanic All Cubans team and subsequent Cuban Stars (East and West) teams, the New York Cubans were re-created in 1935. Though not exclusively Cuban, the New York Cubans boasted an international team of players from Cuba, the US, and other Hispanic nationalities. Playing in the Negro National League and the Negro American League, the NY Cubans won the Negro League World Series in 1947. Notable players included Luis Tiant, Sr, Minnie Minoso, Martin Dihigo, and Tetelo Vargas.
Philadelphia Stars
Established 1933 - 1952
After starting as an independent ball club in 1933, the Philadelphia Stars played in the Negro National League from 1934-48 and the Negro American League from 1949-52. The Stars won a controversy-filled 8-game Negro National League Championship over the Chicago American Giants in 1934, taking a seven game series 4-3-1. Notable players included Oscar Charleston, Biz Mackey, Satchel Paige, Turkey Stearnes and Jud Wilson.
NLBM Collection Gallery
