Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist at a June 19, 2024 signing of a bill establishing “Negro Leagues Day” in Michigan | Whitmer office photo
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation on Wednesday — which also was Juneteenth — to celebrate the contributions of Black athletes in the Negro National League. The Detroit Stars was one of the original eight teams represented at the birth of the league in 1920.
Years before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball in 1947 at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Negro National League invited not only Black players, but Black fans to come to enjoy the sport that was otherwise segregated.
Michiganders were able to see the Detroit Stars or the Detroit Wolves play at Hamtramck Stadium, which in recent years has received historical recognition and grants renovation and preservation.
May 2 will be known as “Negro Leagues Day” in Michigan, the day in 1920 that its first game was played.
Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) who sponsored the legislation to recognize the league, told a legislative committee in May 2023 that the league and its athletes stood up against racism and pursued greatness.
Lydia Teasley and state Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) during a House Government Operations Committee meeting in 2023| Michigan House Democrats
“Without the influence of these exceptional players and the Negro League, Major League Baseball wouldn’t be what it is today, and America wouldn’t be the country that it is today,” Scott said during a state House Governmental Operations Committee hearing last year.
And it’s personal for Scott, as she said in a news release Wednesday that Ron Teasley, the oldest surviving player from Michigan and her great uncle is part of the rich legacy of the Detroit stars.
“Although Jackie Robinson is the name we know for integrating the baseball leagues, there were men like my Uncle Ron who played the game in the face of segregation, too. I get an immense feeling of admiration and pride when I think of how important the Negro Leagues were for Detroit’s Black families and the community,” Scott said. “Now, every May 2, is Negro Leagues Day in Michigan. We salute and remember these players for breaking records and for making history in a league of their own.”
Teasley’s daughter, Lydia Teasley, told lawmakers last month that it would be a dream for the family to see her father and other Michigan athletes recognized and have the state learn more about its role in desegregating baseball.
“… Just a league where players could come together and showcase their talents in a way that they weren’t able to do any other way, so May 2 would be an important day for not just the players, but also for our students, our student athletes,” Teasley told the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee in May. “It would be so wonderful for them to learn more about the game, to preserve the history of it and we hope to incorporate MLB as much as possible in that day.”
Cecil Kaiser, Melvin Duncan, George Wilson, Walter Owens, John W. Patterson, Willie Powell and Johnny Walker were other notable players in the league, according to the governor’s office.
Historic Hamtramck Stadium | Ken Coleman
The recognition of the league is a point of pride, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist in a news release Wednesday, both as a Detroit native and a Black man.
“As one of the eight founding teams of the Negro Leagues, the Detroit Stars are a testament to the rich sports history of our city and state,” Gilchrist said. “This acknowledgement not only honors their legacy but also educates and inspires our communities about the resilience and achievements of these pioneering athletes.”
The league isn’t just an important part of baseball history; it’s a testament to the resilience of Black athletes and all the talent they bring to athletics, Whitmer said in a news release Wednesday.
“I am honored to sign this bipartisan bill to honor the history of Black baseball players and teams in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “By commemorating this day, we pay tribute to their legacy and ensure that their stories of perseverance continue to inspire future generations.”
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