As a baseball fan it has always bothered me that the Negro leagues has been and add-on topic in the conversation of the best players ever. I am remiss in the fact that I don’t know a lot of their names, but I am not remiss in my admiration of the entire concept of a separate league that played with as much, if not more, passion, pride, and love of the game as those who dared to put themselves in the spotlight at a time when blacks were in the least, persecuted. As a white male, I do not have the a true understanding of what it must have been like.

I can stand up and cheer in admiration of the latest endeavor by the MLB. Headed by the great Dave Winfield, 30 of the living Negro league players will be “drafted” by the 30 Major League teams. In reality, this is a very kind gesture to those surviving members of the Negro Leagues. In perception, it is a way of encompassing the history of the Negro Leagues into the lexicon of Baseball History, not just MLB. Well Done.

Jon Heyman’s Daily Scoop at SI.com has a more complete description of what will be taking place. Please check it out and be proud to be a baseball fan, no matter what your background is.

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been Baseball.”