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Black History ➔ Autographed Baseball Cap, Grand Rapids Black Sox
Identifier:
2001.62.1Description:
This cap was part of the official uniform of the Grand Rapids Black Sox during the 1946-1947 season. It is a rare and important survival from an important local sports team. According to seller, less than half a dozen are believed to have survived. It both represents achievement of African-American athletes and role models, and discrimination against those same athletes.Royal blue baseball cap with white stitching. White 'GR' monogram log of the Grand Rapids Black Sox 'Negro Baseball Team' sewn to front of cap. Bill was autographed at a later date by 12 players and manager Ted Raspberry. Autographs in black ink are: 'Roscoe Price, James Forbes, Henry Saverson, Reuben Smartt, Herman Purcell, Johnny Walker, James Sap Ivory. Ted Raspberry, Eugene Scruggs, Irvin Little, William ?, Sammy Robinson, Ray Miller, Willie Lee, and KC Monarchs, 55-59.
In addition, there are two documents filed with accession records that serve as certificates of authenticity for the cap.
Date:
1946Materials:
Wool, LeatherDimensions:
4" h 8" w 1" dCurrent Location Status:
On ExhibitCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Museum PurchaseExhibit/Program:
Newcomers: The People of this Place (after 2008)Related Entities:
Spalding (creator)Alternate names: A. G. Spalding and Brothers
Spalding is an American sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago, Illinois in 1876. Raspberry, Ted (creator) Roscoe Price (creator) Henry Saverson (creator) James Forbes (creator) Reuben Smart (creator) Herman Purcell (creator) Johnny Walker (creator) James Edward Ivory (creator)
Alternate names: "Sap" Ivory Eugene Scruggs (creator) Irvin Little (creator) Sammy Robinson (creator) Ray Miller (creator) Willie Lee (creator) Weaver, Bruce A. (donor) Negro League Baseball (is related to)
Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in 1920 that are sometimes termed "Negro Major Leagues".
In the late 19th century the baseball color line developed in professional baseball, excluding African Americans from league play. In 1885, the Cuban Giants formed the first black professional baseball team. The first league, the National Colored Base Ball League, was organized strictly as a minor league but failed in 1887 after only two weeks owing to low attendance. After several decades of mostly independent play by a variety of teams, in 1920 the first Negro National League was formed and ultimately seven major leagues existed at various times over the next thirty years. After integration, the quality of the Negro leagues slowly deteriorated and the Negro American League of 1951 is generally considered the last major league season. The last professional club, the Indianapolis Clowns, operated as a humorous sideshow rather than competitively from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. (Source: Wikipedia)
