PRINTER'S NO. 3306
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
735
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY KINSEY, WILLIAMS AND GAINEY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro
National League.
WHEREAS, In February 1920, a group of African-American
baseball team owners met at a YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri, to
discuss the prospect of an African-American baseball league,
which led to the creation of the Negro National League; and
WHEREAS, While African Americans initially played baseball
alongside white teammates in the 1860s, Jim Crow laws,
segregationist beliefs and unwritten rules eventually resulted
in professional baseball shutting out African-American
ballplayers; and
WHEREAS, African Americans formed their own teams through the
latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century,
including teams in cities and towns throughout Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In 1866, after facing restrictions against joining
white baseball clubs, the Excelsior Base Ball Club and the
Pythian Base Ball Club, both of Philadelphia, were organized and
stood as two of the earliest African-American baseball teams in
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the nation; and
WHEREAS, African-American baseball teams were formed in
Allegheny, Allentown, Altoona, Athens, Bethlehem, Blairsville,
Canonsburg, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Chester, Columbia,
Connellsville, Frankford, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hollidaysburg,
Lancaster, Lawrenceville, Lock Haven, Marcus Hook, Marietta,
Mechanicsburg, Media, Middleton, Monongahela, Montrose, Mount
Joy, New Castle, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Pottsville, Pottstown, Reading, Scranton, Sharon Hill,
Shippensburg, Steelton, Stroudsburg, Uniontown, Washington, West
Chester, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Wrightsville and York in
the 19th century; and
WHEREAS, In 1883, two teams made up of African-American
females were organized in Philadelphia, the Dolly Vardens and
the Captain Jinks; and
WHEREAS, The first professional baseball league organized by
and for African Americans was the 1887 National Colored Baseball
League, which included two Pennsylvania teams; and
WHEREAS, In 1903, the Philadelphia Giants played in the
first-ever Colored World Championship against the Cuban "X"
Giants; and
WHEREAS, The original nine Negro National League ballplayers
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame all have Pennsylvania
ties, with Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa
Bell, Judy Johnson, Oscar Charleston, John Henry Lloyd and
Martin Dihigo all having played for Pennsylvania teams and Monte
Irvin attending Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, More official Negro National League games were
played in this Commonwealth than any other state; and
WHEREAS, During the 1800s and early 1900s, African-American
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baseball leagues provided African-American ballplayers the
opportunity to display their talent and thrive in a professional
setting; and
WHEREAS, In 1947, former Negro American League ballplayer
Jackie Robinson officially integrated Major League Baseball when
he played first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers; and
WHEREAS, The successes of Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, Roy
Campanella and Monte Irvin in Major League Baseball drew the
attention of African-American communities and drained the
African-American baseball leagues of their fan base; and
WHEREAS, The Negro National League eventually disbanded in
1948 while the Negro American League would remain in existence
until 1960; and
WHEREAS, Though the breakthroughs of Jackie Robinson and
other African-American ballplayers into the major leagues
signaled the eventual decline of African-American baseball
leagues, the organization of these leagues undoubtedly pushed
the game into uncharted territory; and
WHEREAS, The Negro National League and other African-American
baseball leagues proved that African-American ballplayers could
play on even terms with their white counterparts and draw just
as much interest from baseball fans; and
WHEREAS, "The leagues died having served their purpose,
shining a light on African American ballplayers at a time when
the white majors simply did not want to know," said baseball
writer Steven Goldman; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro National League;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate the
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history of all African-American baseball leagues and recognize
the exemplary participation of Pennsylvania athletes,
entrepreneurs and fans in those leagues.
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