A bipartisan contingent of legislators is introducing a bill to honor Negro Leagues baseball by creating a commemorative coin made by the U.S. Mint.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act was proposed Tuesday by Republican Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt and Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, as well as Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Republican Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio.
The bill would recognize the Negro National League, an all-black baseball league formed for African American baseball players in 1920 after they were excluded from participating in major league competition. Blunt said the proceeds from the coin would help fund the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
“From Jackie Robinson to Satchel Paige to Buck O’Neil, several of baseball’s most iconic players began their professional careers in the Negro Leagues,” Blunt wrote in a tweet. “The talent, excitement, and sportsmanship they brought to the game helped break down the barriers of segregation.”
Today, I introduced a bill directing @USTreasury to mint a coin commemorating the Centennial of Negro Leagues Baseball. Proceeds from the coin will go toward the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in #KCMO, which preserves the legacy of the leagues and the change they brought about.
— Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) July 30, 2019
“Today, I introduced a bill directing @USTreasury to mint a coin commemorating the Centennial of Negro Leagues Baseball,” he added. “Proceeds from the coin will go toward the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in #KCMO, which preserves the legacy of the leagues and the change they brought about.”
Cleaver said in a statement that it’s important for Americans to realize the significance sports had during the civil rights movement.
“As America’s pastime, baseball and the Negro Leagues were at the very forefront of the fight for equality,” Cleaver said.
“As the representative of Kansas City, the birthplace of the Negro Leagues and home of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, I couldn’t be more proud to sponsor this legislation,” he went on. “I would urge all of my colleagues to support this bill and honor the legacy of every player that participated in such a pivotal organization in American history.”
Kaine said the coin’s production would ensure the players’ legacy “is carried on,” while Stivers said it was “undeniably worthwhile.”
