Negro Leaguers to discuss the first Negro League game at Yankees Stadium on July 25 in NYC

A panel of former Negro League players and historians will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first Negro League baseball game at Yankee Stadium this Monday at the Museum of the City of New York on July 25th. For more details on the event, click here.

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James Gammon (manager Lou Brown from Major League) dies at 70

Fan favorite James Gammon, who played the seasoned manager Lou Brown in the classic Major League died Friday from cancer at the age of 70 in California.

Gammon mastered the gravelly voiced tobacco chewing manager to perfectly compliment Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, and Wesley Snipes' eccentric personalities. His weathered veteran persona was just the leader that rag-tag group needed to go from worst to first. 

One of Major League's legacies over the past two decades has been its often-quoted one-liners. While many reach for lines from Bob Uecker's "Harry Doyle" character, it was Gammon's memorable, "You may run like Hayes, but you hit like s--t," zing to Snipes' "Willie Mays Hayes" that continues to get laughs with multiple generations.

What was your favorite Lou Brown line from Major League? Leave a comment below.

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Vicente Lopez, Cuban pitcher for Almendares dead at 83

Former Cuban League star and Brooklyn Dodger farmhand Vicente Lopez passed away Wednesday at the age of 83 in Miami. Lopez was signed by the Dodgers after an outstanding Cuban amateur league career in 1948. He won 18 and 20 games in 1949 and 1950 for their Class B Miami Sun Sox team.

Vicente Lopez

All signs pointed towards Lopez quickly advancing towards the major league level. During the winter league season of 1950-51, Lopez was the target of scrutiny by the Dodgers scouts. During a winter league game against another Dodger prospect Joe Black, Lopez battled for 10-innings during a 2-2 ballgame. After his brilliant display in front of the Dodgers brass, Lopez realized that he threw his arm out in the process. He would never regain the life on his fastball to supplement his knee buckling curve to become a major league prospect.

Lopez pitched for 13 seasons in the minor leagues, Mexico, and Cuba before settling in Miami. After his baseball career, he worked as a clerk in a food warehouse while operating Los Cubanos Libres, a baseball academy alongside fellow Cubans Julio Moreno and Sandy Consuegra.

* Ed Note - Lopez founded Los Cubanos Libres and operated the baseball academy with Julio Moreno amongst other former players. He did not work at Carlos Pascual's Academy as previously reported.

More Info -
El Lanzador - Vicente Lopez was almost the Cuban Koufax - Miami New Times
Muere en Miami el ex lanzador cubano Vicente López - Diario Las Americas

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Negro Leagues honored with new stamp

The Negro Leagues are honored once again with a commemorative stamp from the United States Postal Service. The new stamp which was issued Thursday features an artistic rendition of a close play at home plate, and Hall of Famer Andrew "Rube" Foster, who is considered by many the "father" of the Negro Leagues.

Prominent living former Negro Leaguers include Hall of Famers Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks and Hank Aaron.

Stamps and first day cachets can be ordered online from USPS.com.

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Clint Hartung, New York Giant pitcher and outfielder, 87, 1922-2010

Former New York Giant pitcher and outfielder Clint Hartung died at the age of 87 in Sinton, Texas on Thursday. He was the runner on third base when Bobby Thomson hit the famous "Shot Heard 'Round The World."

Click here for a complete retrospective on Hartung's career.

Clint Hartung

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