Baseball’s Negro Leagues are making a lot of news this week, thanks to MLB’s long-promised addition of some of the stats available there into official “major league” history. But that’s just part of what’s going on with celebrations of those leagues. One of the most prominent will come on June 20 with the MLB at Rickwood Field game, featuring the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals playing in one of the most famous surviving ballparks from that era in Birmingham, Alabama.
Ahead of that game, HOMAGE CEO Ryan Vesler spoke to AA on three new shirts his company has added to their Negro Leagues collection to celebrate that game. He also discussed that collection overall, which is part of a long-running partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, citing it as one of the best things they’ve done.
“Our work with the NLBM has been one of our longest and most rewarding partnerships as part of our growing HOMAGE Works program,” Vesler said. “We’ve been proud to support their mission for more than 10 years, with a portion of the net proceeds from all sales of our Negro Leagues collection benefiting the museum. I’m proud to share that sales of our collection have contributed more than $80,000 directly to the museum and its mission to preserve and celebrate the history of African-American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America.”
Vesler said the NLBM is a key group to support given the awareness they’ve helped bring to the stories of the Negro Leagues, which has included prominent roles in initiatives like the new Baseball Hall of Fame “The Souls of the Game” exhibit and this week’s statistical developments.
“At HOMAGE, we’re all about telling under-told stories, and historically there has not been enough coverage of the legendary Negro leagues. Partnering with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum allows us to help highlight the achievements of the unsung teams and heroes of baseball history. We’re proud to use our platform to honor these incredible legacies, educate our customers about an essential part of American history, and give them a canvas—via our tees—to communicate their own passion for these stories. Since we started the partnership in 2014, we’ve been happy to see increasing national coverage of the Leagues, including the Rickwood Field game and the showcase in MLB The Show.”
Vesler said the partnership grew out of a meeting he had with NLBM president Bob Kendrick, whose devotion to these stories impressed him.
“I was blown away by his passion for the history of Negro Leagues baseball. He brought the stories to life in a way that deeply resonated with me. I was inspired to spotlight these under-celebrated teams and figures and use our tees to raise awareness and spark conversations about the important origins of baseball.”
And Vesler said HOMAGE customers’ response to these shirts over the years has been remarkable.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with demand continuing to grow. Fans are excited to support the cause and wear the stories proudly. We’ve expanded from a few team tees to a collection with well over 100 products now. Our top-selling teams include iconic teams like the Homestead Grays, Black Yankees, and San Francisco Sea Lions along with legendary players like Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, and Cool Papa Bell. Each team has its unique history and famous figures, so the stories we can tell are endless.”
For the Rickwood Field game, HOMAGE is debuting three new shirts: one featuring the event and the ballpark (the oldest surviving ballpark in the U.S., the place where Willie Mays began his professional career in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons, and the place that hosted the final Negro Leagues World Series that year), and two new ones for the San Francisco Sea Lions and St. Louis Stars. Vesler said these designs show off the history of the teams and the ballpark.
“Our new collection includes three stylish designs that honor the rich Negro Leagues baseball legacy for each city and give fans a cool way to show their support during the game in June,” he said. “The primary design within the collection is the Rickwood Field T-shirt. It features a detailed illustration of Rickwood Field, celebrating its status as America’s oldest ballpark.
“The shirt prominently showcases the historic matchup with the words ‘Rickwood Field’ and ‘America’s Oldest Ballpark,’ accompanied by the team logos. It’s a perfect tribute to the iconic venue that has played a significant role in baseball history.
“Additionally, we’re introducing new colorways for the San Francisco Sea Lions and St. Louis Stars as representative of the MLB clubs playing at Rickwood Field in June. These refreshed designs add a new dimension and connection to the upcoming game.”
Vesler said Rickwood Field’s history is remarkable, and is a great thing for HOMAGE to spotlight.
“There is so much history packed into Rickwood Field. It’s the oldest professional ballpark in the United States and was the home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues from 1924 through 1960. This is where the legendary Willie Mays began his professional career in 1948. The field also hosted the final Negro League World Series game in October 1948.
“Featuring this game in our collection allows us to highlight the significance of Rickwood Field and the enduring impact of the Negro Leagues on baseball and American history. By weaving these stories into our apparel, we aim to educate and inspire our customers while supporting the ongoing mission of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.”
[HOMAGE]
