110 HCON 368 IH: Recognizing May 2, 2008, as the 88th U.S. House of Representatives 2008-06-04 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 368 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 4, 2008 Mr. Carson submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing May 2, 2008, as the 88th anniversary of the first National Negro League baseball game.

Whereas many separate baseball leagues, known collectively as the Negro Baseball Leagues, were organized by African-Americans between 1920 and 1960; Whereas Major League Baseball did not fully integrate its leagues until July 1959; Whereas the skills and abilities of Negro Baseball League players eventually made Major League Baseball realize the need to integrate the sport; Whereas Andrew Rube Foster founded the Negro National League on February 13, 1920, at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri, and also managed and played for the Chicago American Giants, and later was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; Whereas the National Negro League played its first game on May 2, 1920, at Washington Park, originally located 3 blocks over the White River Bridge west of downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana; Whereas in the first National Negro League game, the Indianapolis ABCs hosted the Chicago Union Giants and won by a score of 4–2; Whereas the Indianapolis ABCs, named after their sponsor, the American Brewing Company, and formed at the turn of the last century, played teams from around the city, including some white teams from throughout Indiana; Whereas Charles I. Taylor founded and managed the ABCs and was widely considered to be one of the best early Negro Baseball League managers; Whereas C.I. Taylor’s eye for spotting talent discovered future Hall of Fame players like Oscar Charleston, Ben Taylor, and Raleigh Biz Mackey; Whereas the Indianapolis ABCs excelled in the Negro National League, finishing second in the 1922 season with a 46–33 record; Whereas the Indianapolis ABCs played 11 seasons in the Negro Baseball Leagues, from 1920 to 1926, 1931 to 1932, and 1938 to 1939, and the Indianapolis Clowns played 17 seasons in the Negro Baseball Leagues, from 1946 to 1962; Whereas the Negro Baseball Leagues included exceptionally talented players who played the game at its highest level; Whereas Henry Hank Aaron made his professional debut with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982; and Whereas by achieving success on the baseball field, African-American baseball teams, managers, and players helped break down color barriers and integrate African-Americans into all aspects of society in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That the Congress— (1)recognizes the 88th anniversary of the first National Negro League baseball game, played in Indianapolis, Indiana; and (2)recognizes the teams and players of the Negro Baseball Leagues for their achievements, dedication, sacrifices, and contributions to both baseball and our Nation.