DOTHAN, Ala. — 2020 is the centennial celebration year of baseball’s Negro Leagues and three former US presidents are honoring the league that very well paved the way for baseball as we know it.
Here is what they said.
“Today, I am tipping my cap to everyone in the negros league to everyone who left a century’s long legacy of talent, spirit and dignity on our country,” said the first African American President, Barack Obama.
“My favorite baseball player is Willie Mays, it turned out Willie Mays played in the negro leagues for a brief period of time. I can just imagine what baseball would have been like had the predecessors of Willie Mays been able to play major league baseball,” said 43rd President, George W. Bush.
“Tonight I tip my cap to another graduate, Mr. Cub Ernie banks, because this cap is for Hillary too. When finally the cubs won the championship, long before that the negro leagues made baseball better and America better,” 42nd President Bill Clinton said.
The celebrations will be posted by MLB on their YouTube and Instagram accounts.