Suns to Honor Negro League Greats
Jacksonville as a city has a rich history in the sport of baseball and it all began in Jacksonville with the Southern League of Base Ballists in 1885.
The Southern League was composed of ten teams: the Memphis Eclipse, the Georgia Champions of Atlanta, the Savannah Broads, the Memphis Eurekas, the Savannah Lafayettes, the Charleston Fultons, the Jacksonville Athletics, the New Orleans Unions, the Florida Clippers of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Macedonias. The league played its first game on June 7 between the Eclipse and the Unions in New Orleans, Louisiana. Soon deep in debt, the league lasted only one year.
Harold "Buster" Hair, born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida played for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1953 and the Kansas City Monarchs in 1958.
Hair grew up with the Red Caps as a bat boy and loved just being at the field. The field once called Durkee Field is no JP Small Park and Jacksonville Tars, which has turned into the Jacksonville Suns over the years.
Hair's biggest accomplishments are making the All-Star in his rookie season in 1953 and hitting .355 on the season during his 1958 campaign with the Monarchs.
Art Hamilton, a resident of Jacksonville, Florida, played for the Indianapolis Clowns and the Detroit Stars from 1953 to 1960.
Hamilton, was an all-star catcher throughout his Negro League career and can be considered as one of the best.
Shortly after hanging up his Negro League cleats, Hamilton went on to play with the Phillies.
Both Harold Hair and Art Hamilton attended Stanton High School in Jacksonville, FL and will be attendance Friday Night.
Come out to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Friday night to honor these legends of baseball and enjoy fireworks after the game, first pitch 705pm.