CHICAGO WHITE SOX PRESENT THIRD ANNUAL‘DOUBLE DUTY CLASSIC’ GAME, PAYING TRIBUTE TO100 YEARS OF NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL
As the baseball season continues into full swing, the Chicago White Sox is readying for the third annual Double Duty Classic on June 30. The free event celebrates the history and tradition of Negro Leagues baseball in Chicago and showcases the next generation of inner-city baseball players.
The Double Duty Classic is named after Ted Radcliffe who was a former star in the Negro Leagues. He was given the nickname “Double Duty” because he played catcher and pitcher in the 1932 Negro League World Series Doubleheader.
Some 40 elite inner-city high school baseball players from across the country will participate in an All-Star game set to begin at 1:05 p.m. and also will feature the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE), a traveling high school team, representing Chicago. They will dress in uniforms honoring the Negro Leagues’ East-West All-Star Game. Admission to the event and parking are free. Pre-game festivities include live music and entertainment by local performers starting at 11:30 a.m.
In honor of the Negro League celebration, the U.S. Postal Service will issue two 44 cent stamps in July to pay tribute to the all-black professional baseball leagues that operated from 1920 to about 1960. The stamps will feature one scene painted by Kadir Nelson which includes Andrew “Rube” Foster. He organized the Negro National League in 1920 which was the first long lasting professional league for African American players. The nickname “Rube” was earned by outpitching George Edward “Rube” Waddell in 1902. The unveiling of the stamps will occur on June 30th .
Among the White Sox’s community programs is the Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities (RBI) program offered to youth ages 13-18. The Chicago White Sox are partnering with the Chicago Park District to play baseball all summer long from June 22nd- August 20th for free. The players will receive full uniforms and an opportunity to try-out for the RBI All-Star Team to play in RBI Regional in Minneapolis, MN! This is a great program that includes opening and closing ceremonies and the opportunity to attend Chicago White Sox games! For more information, visit whitesox.com/DDC or call 312-674-1000.
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For more information contact:
Adorn Lewis-Mitchell
Flowers Communications Group
312-228-8804
alewis@flowerscomm.com
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