WELCOME TO MINNESOTA BLACK BASEBALL
While it’s been some time since an update, I want you to know that I’ve been active and busy with Black Baseball as well as some history projects on significant African Americans from Minnesota.
I continue to work with the St. Paul Saints baseball team with annual events involving black baseball center around their “City of Baseball Museum,’ at CHS Field their home field.
This past season on August 8th, we honored Joe Black, in his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers 1952 he became the first Black pitcher in MLB to win a World Series game and he was named Rookie of the Year and was number 3 in MVP voting. Prior to the Dodges, Joe pitched for the St. Paul Saints in 1951 and was a star pitcher for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro Leagues. (see video on story page)
In 2023 we honored Billy Williams of St. Paul and Minnesota (see story page) whom was an outstanding baseball player and went on to work at the State Capitol for 53 years as the assistant to fourteen consecutive Governors of Minnesota.
We’ve honored players like Roy Campanella, Marcenia Lyle Stone Alberga aka Toni Stone, Phil E. Reid and the St. Paul Colored Gophers and Jimmy Lee an outstanding sports official in three sports, including baseball (1st Black Umpire in the Big Ten) and the Saints have named an annual umpire award after Jimmy Lee.
I have a friend Michael J. McGibbon that has done research on Satchel Paige in 1959 Barnstorming with the Havana/Cuban All Stars after deciding to leave playing with the Miami Marlins for three seasons. Satchel’s barnstorming had him pitching in Minnesota at least eight separate times and cities.
I’ve added a couple new stories on the Story Page and will be including a new History Page as I continue to work on book #2, The Spirit of The Rondo Athlete, 1940-1969.
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10 Must-Read Minnesota Sports Books From the Past Decade
Curl up with a page-turner detailing the stories behind several of our top teams, athletes, and traditions
“Great job tonight Frank! Wonderful crowd and terrific presentation. Thanks
for teaching things some of us never knew! You are the best.”
“A copy should be in every High School in the State.”
“Just finished reading your book Frank. Well done my friend!!! I highly recommend reading it and it would also be a great resource for all the high schools.
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“You did a fantastic job last night, Frank! Entertaining, informative, and inspiring —- certainly worthy of the standing ovation you received.”
“Frank, you made last night special for me and my wife by being the caring and loving person you are. You showed us all how to love one another by how much you love and loved your father with this great addition to the library of the struggle on the baseball field and in society. You truly are one of a kind and I love that you include all of us in this history and not just one race. It is everyone’s legacy and we need to do better and improve the legacy as we continue to grow as people of all colors.”