Hank "Baby" Presswood (Cleveland Buckeyes and Kansas City Monarchs); Johnny "Lefty" Washington (Chicago American Giants and Houston Eagles); & Nathan "Sonny" Weston, (Chicago American Giants); Ernest "Ernie" Westfield (Birmingham Black Barons) and special guest Don "Groundhog" Johnson, 82 appeared at the nation's largest Sports Convention which began July 30th 2008 over at the Rosemont (ILLINOIS) Donald Steven's Convention Center.
This 5-day spectacular concluded on Sunday August 3rd. Pictures will appear shortly.
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On May 16th thru May 18th 2008, the largest gathering of former Negro League Legends in the Mid-West since the opening of the Negro League Museum in KC back in 1999, took place in Naperville, (Chicago) Illinois.
Legends on hand included many who played both in the Major Leagues and in the Negro Leagues such as; Cubs great GEORGE "Daddy Long Legs" ALTMAN, Hall of Famer MONTE IRVIN, Reverend BILL GREASON, SAMMY DRAKE and JC HARTMAN.
Some of the other names appearing included:
Carl Long, Hank "Baby" Presswood, Jim "Zapper" Zapp, Johnny "Lefty" Washington, Nathan "Sonny" Weston, and Ernest "Ernie" Westfield.
The Negro League Legends were there to help celebrate the 88th Anniversary of the first ever Negro League Baseball game, which was played May 20th 1920.
• In 1954 REV. BILL GREASON was the St. Louis Cardinals 1st African American Pitcher
• SAMMY DRAKE - along with his brother Solly (who was unable to attend this show) were the first African American brother combination to play in the Majors. They both broke in with the Chicago Cubs and played along side Ernie Banks. The also played with Cubs & NY Mets.
• Mr. J.C. HARTMAN played with the Houston Colts 1962-1963 was the mentor to Hall of Famer Joe Morgan.
OTHER NEGRO LEAGUE LEGENDS...WHO WERE THERE WERE:
* Hank "Baby" Presswood, 86 -Cleveland Buckeyes & K.C. Monarchs
* Nathan "Sonny" Weston, 77 - Chicago American Giants
* Carl Long - Birmingham Black Barons
* Jim "Zapper" Zapp (3B, OF) 1948-1954 - Birmingham Barons.
A great time was had by all in both Naperville and Joliet and pictures from both of those shows will be appearing here shortly!
