( ENSPIRE Sports ) The Preservation of Sports and Culture
ENSPIRE Contributor: Fayozbek Ochilov
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum announced a collaboration with FOX Sports and Fanatics Collectibles to present MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues. The partnership includes the unveiling of a giant trading card honoring Negro Leagues legend Satchel Paige at the museum. This card is the first of four featuring baseball legends Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson, and Willie Mays, to be showcased during a promotional tour at select MLB games and tourist destinations throughout May and June.
Former MLB player Micah Johnson masterfully sketched the giant trading cards, each measuring 24×16 ft and weighing 8,000 lbs, using his fingers, charcoal sticks, an eraser, and a paint roller. This tour builds anticipation for the unique matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, June 20, at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, the oldest ballpark in America, which will be televised nationally on FOX.
“The greats of the Negro Leagues are larger-than-life figures in American history and the history of the great game of baseball, and it is only fitting to have a larger-than-life unveiling at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “We would like to thank our friends at FOX Sports, Fanatics Collectibles, and Major League Baseball for keeping the spirit of black baseball alive.”
Ken Turner, CMO of Fanatics Collectibles, added, “We are honored to partner with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and FOX Sports to celebrate the many contributions of the Negro Leagues. Our trading cards serve as a way to tell and preserve heritage, and we believe that all who experience this tour will have an opportunity to reflect on these baseball legends and understand the positive impact that they have had on today’s game.”
The unveiling also featured a one-hour public activation window with immersive experiences, brand ambassadors, and unique photo ops. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick and former MLB player and artist Micah Johnson will lead Kansas City Royals MLB Urban Youth Academy athletes and media through a museum tour before unveiling the giant trading card at Buck O’Neil Tribute Park. This collaboration not only celebrates the history of the Negro Leagues but also brings their enduring legacy to a new generation of fans.
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