Obama, MJ join virtual salute to celebrate Negro Leagues
Former United States President Barack Obama and NBA legend Michael Jordan are just a few of the high-profile celebrities who are honoring the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues with a virtual salute.
Today I’m tipping my hat to all the giants in the Negro Leagues, from Satchel Paige to Toni Stone and so many others. Their brave example, first set 100 years ago, changed America’s pastime for the better––opening it up for new generations of players and fans alike. pic.twitter.com/05jWocKs17
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 29, 2020
If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one must be worth at least a thousand retweets. A tip of the cap to the Negro Leagues from ... do we even need to say his name? The incomparable Michael Jordan. #TipYourCap2020 pic.twitter.com/nMDzTT3Fi6
— TipYourCap2020 (@TipYourCap2020) June 28, 2020
MLB legends Hank Aaron and Derek Jeter, former U.S. national security advisor Colin Powell, former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter, and Jackie Robinson's wife, Rachel Robinson also joined the campaign Monday, according to tippingyourcap.com.
I am proud to join the #TipYourCap2020 campaign in honor of the centennial of the Negro Leagues and the talented men and women who played in them from 1920 through 1960. The Negro Leagues made baseball better and America better. pic.twitter.com/ToG1xOOLRr
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) June 29, 2020
The Negro Leagues featured various baseball stars such as Robinson, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, "Cool Papa" Bell, and more. Many players eventually made their way to Major League Baseball after Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.
The celebration was supposed to take place June 27 but was moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"In our game, there's nothing more honorable than tipping your cap," Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick said, according to Jim Litke of The Associated Press. "And once I realized that national day of recognition was going to fall by the wayside, I thought, 'OK, maybe we can do it next year.' But that didn't really do it.
"So then I thought, 'How about a virtual tip of the cap?' And let me say here and now, there is no way I could have done this myself. I could not be more proud of the response."