Salute to the Negro Leagues Night: Akron Black Tyrites vs Jax Red Caps
On Saturday, July 9, the Akron RubberDucks will take on the Altoona Curve in a very special Salute to the Negro Leagues night. The Akron RubberDucks will honor the Akron Black Tyrites while the Altoona Curve will honor the Jax Red Caps by wearing the salute to the Negro League
On Saturday, July 9, the Akron RubberDucks will take on the Altoona Curve in a very special Salute to the Negro Leagues night. The Akron RubberDucks will honor the Akron Black Tyrites while the Altoona Curve will honor the Jax Red Caps by wearing the salute to the Negro League uniforms of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
The Akron Black Tyrites were a member of the Negro National League in 1933. The club began that year in Columbus before moving to Akron for just 10 games. The team finished the season in Cleveland as the Giants.
The name was originally supposed to be “Tyr-ites” from the British word for tire, “tyre,” but the name soon became “Ty-rites” to match Akronites.
The team played their games at Akron’s League Park, which was a $135,000 ballpark constructed in 1928 on property at Crosier Street, Park Avenue, and Long Street.
Since the team only played a small number of games in Akron, only a few photos of the front of the uniform jersey appeared when the RubberDucks front office staff began research. To celebrate and honor the original Akron Black Tyrites, the RubberDucks created logos and uniforms in a style the team might have worn in 1933.
The Red Caps were originally formed by a group of local Black train porters, employees of the East Coast Railroad, that played together when they were off duty. The porters wore red hats as part of their uniform, and they were called the Red Caps during their workday. The team was officially put together by the Jacksonville Terminal Station and managed by player Alonzo “Fluke” Mitchell. The Red Caps, who called Durkee Field home, only played seven league games in their debut season in the Negro American League in 1937, finishing with a 4-6 record. They played more than 180 games between 1938 and 1944 and recorded a winning percentage of .401. The Red Caps moved to Cleveland in 1939 but return to Jacksonville in 1941. They finished the season at 12-20, coming in second to last in the league. The 1942 season was no better for the club, with a 7-22 record, and the team was dropped from the league in July. The Red Caps played as an unaffiliated team at Durkee Field in 1944.
Durkee Field, which is now known as JP Small Park, is one of only five Negro leagues ballparks still in existence. Edward Waters University, which is a local HBCU, used the field now for their games, as well as some local high schools. Outside of JP Small Park is a statue of Buck O'Neil, who is going to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown this summer. Buck attended Edward Waters College before his Negro leagues playing and managing career and MLB scouting and coaching career. He then went on to found the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
July 9 will mark the first time both of the Fast Forward Sports Group teams’ salute to the Negro Leagues uniforms will be worn on the same field. Tickets are still available by calling 855-97-QUACK or by visiting akronrubberducks.com.
To help the RubberDucks and Jumbo Shrimp celebrate and share the story of the Akron Black Tyrites and Jax Red Caps, you can get your own Akron Black Tyrites merchandise here and your Jax Red Caps merchandise here.