Bill Nelson: “I, along with Senator Talent, proudly submit a resolution recognizing May 20, 2006 as, ``Negro Leaguers Recognition…”

“I, along with Senator Talent, proudly submit a resolution recognizing May 20, 2006 as, ``Negro Leaguers Recognition Day.'' Since 1885, long before Major League Baseball was integrated in 1947, African Americans were organizing their own professional leagues. These leagues did not succeed because of racial prejudice and lack of adequate financial backing. However, this changed dramatically with the inception of the first successful Negro league. On May 20, 1920, the Negro National League played its first game. Its creation was the result of the efforts of an African American player and manager named Andrew ``Rube'' Foster. Mr. Foster's success inspired the formation of other leagues. As a result, on October 3, 1924, the first Negro League World Series game was played between the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League and Hilldale of Philadelphia of the Eastern Colored League. This historic and exhaustive first series lasted ten games, covered a span of almost three weeks, and was played in four different cities. In the end, Kansas City claimed the championship. But the lasting legacy of the Negro leagues, as the six separate leagues between 1920 and 1960 are collectively known, are the tremendous baseball players they produced. Some of the names we know and some we don't.…”