2008 African American Heritage Weekend Festivities
2008 Heritage Weekend photo gallery

The Pittsburgh Pirates Annual African American Heritage Celebration was held on June 27 and June 28 at PNC Park. This annual event captured the essence of the Pirates community efforts and highlighted the contributions of African-Americans in Pittsburgh. Chevrolet, HJ Heinz, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the African American Chamber of Commerce were the sponsors for this year's events.

The Pirates African American Heritage Weekend celebrations kicked off on Friday, June 27, with a sports luncheon featuring Al "Scoops" Oliver, former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, as the guest speaker. The luncheon was held in the Lexus Club at PNC Park with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Pirates Charities.

During a special pre-game ceremony on Friday, the Pirates saluted the Wilkinsburg Baseball Association's little league and softball teams on their many achievements and awards.

The weekend celebrations continued on Saturday, June 28 with a Heritage Day Festival on Federal Street. Youth choirs and groups from the tri-state area were showcased live on stage. Fans could view and visit displays of many cultural arts and crafts along with educational and health awareness booths.

Prior to Saturday's game, the Pirates Annual Community Service Awards granted a book scholarship to each of the two Josh Gibson Foundation Scholarship winners and to each of the two Pirates Minority Business Advisory Board Heritage Scholarship winners. Scholarship recipients were selected according to the scholarship criteria of the Josh Gibson Foundation and the NEED's Scholarship program.

The Pirates game on Saturday was also the "Negro Leagues Turn Back the Clock Night" at PNC Park. The Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays honored the Negro League era by sporting the uniforms of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Jacksonville Red Caps respectively.


2007 African American Heritage Weekend Festivities
African American Luncheon photo gallery
Josh Gibson Foundation Award photo gallery
Make-A-Wish Foundation check presentation photo gallery
Vision screening clinic photo gallery

Hall of Famer and current Color Analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball Joe Morgan was the guest speaker at the Pirates African American Heritage Day Sports Luncheon on Friday, Aug. 3, 2007. The luncheon was held in the Lexus Club at PNC Park and benefited Pirates Charities and the Joe Morgan Youth Foundation.

In his hometown Bay Area community, Joe Morgan continues to be instrumental in developing the lives of young people. He contributes his personal time and finances to the Young America baseball program as well as the Oakland Unified School District Sports Program. He is also the founder and president of the Joe Morgan Youth Foundation, which provides college scholarships and financial support to a variety of programs that develop and influence the lives of youth.

The African American Heritage Sports Luncheon is part of the Pirates annual African American Heritage Weekend. Throughout the weekend, promotions and special events will focus on honoring and recognizing African Americans in baseball as well as celebrating African American culture in our community.

The Pittsburgh Pirates African American Heritage Celebration at PNC Park was held on Aug. 3-4, 2007. This annual event sponsored by the Pittsburgh Pirates captures the essence of our community efforts and highlights the contributions of African-Americans in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates African American Heritage Weekend celebrations kicked off on Friday, Aug. 3, with a luncheon featuring Joe Morgan, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and ESPN color analyst for "Sunday Night Baseball", as the guest speaker. The weekend celebrations continued on Saturday, Aug. 4. A Gospel Musical Festival was held on Federal Street along with a festival of African -American arts and crafts, educational and health awareness informational activities.

On Friday, Aug. 3, all fans who entered the ballpark received a Josh Gibson replica statue. In addition, the Josh Gibson Foundation was saluted during the pre-game ceremony for their contributions to Pittsburgh's youths in the community. The national anthem was sung by Sonya Marie Carter.

Prior to the Saturday game, during the pre-games ceremonies, the Pirates Annual Community Service Awards were presented to the following youth organizations in recognition of the organization's demonstration of selfless humanity and the dedication they have displayed toward the enrichment and the development of Pittsburgh's youths in the Community:

Best of the Batch Foundation Boys & Girls Club of Western PA Camp Fire USA Macedonia's God's Way Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation

Providence Connections, Inc. R.I.S.E., Summerbridge Urban Youth Action Inc. West Penn Minority Junior Golf

The national anthem was performed by Pittsburgh's National Artists, CRAVE.

2006 African American Heritage Celebration

Each year during the African American Heritage Weekend, the Pirates present their annual community service award. In 2006, the community service award was open to youth baseball players who participated in a Satchel Paige essay writing contest. The contest was open to youth baseball players from the RBI Girls and Boys teams and the Josh Gibson Foundation Little League teams. From this group, five youth baseball players, based on their well-written essays honoring Satchel Paige, were selected by the Pirates Minority Business Advisory Board.

Ranelle Gore
Braddock Girls Fast Pitch
Position: Short Stop
RBI Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament winner
Played In the Major League Baseball’s World Series Urban Youth Academy games in Los Angeles



Brittany Swartzwelder
Braddock Girls Fast Pitch
Position: First Base
RBI Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament winner
Played In the Major League Baseball’s World Series Urban Youth Academy games in Los Angeles



Annie Juanita Cunningham
Braddock Girls Fast Pitch
Position: Pitcher
RBI Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament winner
Played In the Major League Baseball’s World Series Urban Youth Academy games in Los Angeles



Ashton Smith
RBI Braddock Pony League
Position: Center Fielder
Mid Atlantic Junior All-Star Team
Pittsburgh Citiparks Playoff Team



Christopher Reese
Wilkinsburg Little League Team
Position: Right Field/Pitcher
2006 Mayor's Cup Little League





As part of the Heritage Weekend festivities, the African American Heritage Day Luncheon was held at PNC Park on Friday, Aug. 11. Robert Paige, son of the late Satchel Paige, was the keynote speaker. A portion of the proceeds from the event went to benefit the Satchel Paige Foundation and Pirates Charities.



Winning essays

"Making Your Worst Your Best"
By Ranelle Gore

Satchel Paige, born to the name Leroy Robert Paige, was born on July 7th, 19806 in Mobile, Alabama. Satchel was a very tall and lanky African American. Satchel Paige was one of the best pitchers in the world. Paige pitched so well that he had pitches named The Bat Dodger and The Hesitation Pitch. Growing up in the early 1900's wasn't easy, and being a man of color didn't help. When Paige was only twelve years old he got himself into a bit of trouble. He and a friend Wilber Hines used to go down to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad station and carry bags for the passengers for money. Paige got caught trying to steal one of the bags that he was carrying, and that's when his friend gave him the nickname Satchel. After Satchel got caught he was sent off to the Industrial School for Negro Children in Mt. Meigs, Alabama. While in school there the counselor named Edward Byrd noticed that Satchel pitched very well. Byrd taught Paige to release the ball at the last possible second, and to kick his front foot high. Shortly after his release from school Satchel joined semi-pro Mobile Tigers. Paige's Brother Wilson played on that team as well. While playing in one of the games, Paige got himself into a jam in the 9th inning. He got so mat at himself that he stomped around on the mound and started kicking up dirt. His fans started booing him and his teammates made it no better. Satchel called his outfield in and made them squat in the infield. Satchel worked his way out of it and from then on he made a name for himself. How did Satchel make his worst his bet do you ask? Well firstly, if he wouldn't have gotten into trouble, then no one would have noticed his great pitching talent. Secondly, Growing up black and making it big wasn't just something that happened, it was something that you work for, and would die for. Finally, working your way out of a hole, and without any help from the people who are supposed to support you at all times, just amazed me every time I read it. A good pitcher isn't hard to find,but an all around astonishing player, you may only find once in a lifetime.

"Making a Name"
By Brittany Swartzwelder

Satchel Paige was born on July 7th, 1906 to the name of Leroy Robert. Paige was the seventh child of twelve to Jon Paige and Lula Coleman Paige. When he was twelve Paige and a friend Wilbur Hines went down to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad station to carry bags for the passengers for money. While attempting to steal a passenger bag Paige was caught and that's when his friend gave him the nickname Satchel. As a result of the incident Paige was sent to the Industrial School for Negro Children in Mount Meigs, Alabama for shoplifting and truancy.

While at the school, Paige developed his pitching skills under the guidance of Edward Byrd. Paige joined his brothers team the semi-pro Mobile Tigers in 1923 after his release. . At one game in particular Paige found himself in a jam in the ninth inning of a 1-0 ballgame, while pitching for the semi-pro team named the Down the Bay Boys. He was angry at himself for the predicament and as he stomped around the mound kicking up dirt the fans began booing him. As retaliation he called in his outfielders and had them squat in the infield. With both the fans and even his own teammate howling, Paige was able to work his way out of the jam. Despite his setbacks in life Satchel Paige was still able to become one of the greatest pitchers of all time and did so by starting with that game and making a name for himself.

"Satchel Paige"
By Annie Cunningham

When my dad asked me to write an essay on Satchel Paige, I looked at him funny because I had no idea who he was talking about. Because my dad loves baseball, he proceeded to clue me in to whom this great baseball player was. This conversation sparked interest in me so I visited various websites for more information.

What I found was Paige has been called one of the greatest pitchers who ever lived buy never received the recognition he deserved because when he played black ball players were not allowed to play in the all white major league. Satchel was one of the pioneers of the Negro League. Somewhere between truth and legion, Paige became well known as a pitcher of high caliber who dominated his league. Paige was at this very best pitching against the great white players of the Major League in the exhibition games th4e two leagues played annually.

Satchel finally was given the chance to play in the major leagues after Jackie Robinson integrated baseball. Unfortunately for most Americans he was well past his prime, somewhere in his early to late forties. Even then his skill as a pitcher was better than a lot of the players who were thought to be the best in the league/

What made Satchel's story even more interesting to me is that he never gave up on his dream to play in the "Big League". Because of his age he was no longer the player he once was but his dream did come true. My dad is always telling me to never give up and to play hard all the time and after reading some of the stories about Satchel, I am starting to realize why he feels this way.

Satchel Paige has taught me that no matter the situation or circumstance, there is nothing too great or impossible to overcome. As a softball player I will view Paige's passion for the game as a driving force for me to be a better player and person.

"Satchel Paige"
By Ashton Smith

I searched on the internet to find out about Satchel Paige. This is what I found: Leroy "Satchel" Paige was a legendary storyteller and one of the most entertaining pitchers in baseball history. A tall, lanky fireballer, he was arguably the Negro leagues' hardest thrower, most colorful character and greatest gate attraction. In the 1930s, the well-traveled pitcher barnstormed around the continent, baffling hitters with creatively named pitches such as the "Bat Dodger" and "Hesitation Pitch." In 1948 he was sold to Cleveland on his 42nd birthday, becoming the oldest player to make his major league debut, while helping the Indians win the pennant.

He sounds like a great player. I wish more people knew about him and other Negro League players. I think it is important that my teammates and I know about them and how good they were. I wish O could have seen him play. I play centerfield and always play as hard as I can. I think Satchel did too. I think Satchel played a long time because he had so much fun. My coaches and parents tell me to have fun too. I hope one day I can play in the big leagues and be remembered like Satchel.

"Satchel Paige"
By Christopher Reese

Satchel Paige was to Negro League baseball what Babe Ruth was to the majors; a rare combination of talent and sportsmanship. His remarkable skills on the mound to filled ballparks everywhere even during the Great Depression. Satchel Paige was so great; he was "loaned" to struggling teams who needed more people to come to their games.

Paige began his career with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts in the Negro Southern League in 1926. After passing through Birmingham and Nashville, in 1932 he started playing for the Pittsburgh Crawfords. He had more than 30+ wins with the Crawfords making him the premier pitcher.

Though records are incomplete, Paige is often credited with having recorded more than 300 career shutouts. His career win total is estimated at well over 1500 games, a figure which includes virtually countless appearances in exhibition games against all levels of competition both in the United States and south of the border.

In 1932, Paige began a nine-year stint with the Kansas City Monarchs. In this era of his long career, he led the Monarchs to four consecutive Negro American League pennants and a Negro World Series championship in 1942. During 1940s Paige also managed to bring himself to the attention of white baseball fans all across America with his legendary exhibition tours playing Negro League All-Stars against major league competition.

At the age of 42, Paige become the oldest rookie in major league history when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948. He joined the team late in the year, but still posted a 6-1 record to help the Indians clinch the American League title and go to the World Series. In the 1950's, Paige was again in the major leagues with the St. Louis Browns. In 1952-53 he represented the Browns in the major league All-Star game.

In 1971, Paige became the first Negro League star honored by induction into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame.