During a pregame ceremony and tribute game on July 18, the Milwaukee Brewers baseball club honored former Negro League players and contributors Gilbert Hernandez Black and James Beckum. Both were inducted into the Yesterday’s Negro League Hall of Fame at the Mother Kathryn Daniels Center located at 3500 W. Mother Daniels Way on the grounds of Milwaukee’s Holy Redeemer Church on July 19. Mr. Beckum, who began playing Negro League Baseball when he was 21, during the days of segregation, has a Little League field named after him in Milwaukee. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Pictured (from left) are Dennis Biddle, Lonie Harris, William McCrary, Reggie Howard, Marie “Peanut” Johnson, Gilbert Hernandez Black, James Beckham, Ray B. Knox and W. James Cobbin.
