Major League Baseball Conducts the First Negro League Players Draft

For the first time in the history of Major League Baseball, a draft will be held to select former players from the old Negro League. The draft will be held prior to the regular baseball draft of young talent. San Deigo Padres Vice President Dave Winfield has long wanted to find a way to honor players that has long been over do. When Buck O'Neil was omitted from the Hall of Fame a couple of years ago, Winfield went into high gear to get something accomplished. O'Neil died in 2006. He served for years as an Ambassador at the Negro Baseball Hall of Fame in Kansas City. Many players like O'Neil were relegated to playing in the old Negro Baseball League.

Every player drafted in this years event will be invited to Florida to attend the event. Some of the players will not be able to make it because of health reasons. One of those players is "Prince" Joe Henry from the St. Louis Cardinals. Prince who now lives in a trailer in Brooklyn, Illinois is in poor health. In recent years, Prince has had an article published weekly in the Riverfront Times called "Ask a Negro Leaguer." He once batted against Satchel Paige and went 0 for 5 with 4 strikeouts.

Prince was a barnstormer and would often wear a tuxedo, top hat, and red shoes as he ran the bases. He would turn his back to the pitcher and then quickly turn and hit the ball. On some occasions, he would take a glove with him under his jersey and catch the ball. He then would toss the ball into the air and hit it to the outfield. Whatever he could do to entertain was what he loved to do. Although Price was a very good player, he was never claimed by a major league team. That is until this draft. Now he is the property of the St. Louis Cardinals. All 30 teams will select a player in this years honorary draft. Besides players from the old Negro League, three Latinos and a female will be drafted. The female is Mame "Peanut" Johnson. Johnson was a pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns.

In 2004, Major League Baseball handed out limited pensions to players from the old Negro League. However, Prince never got one. After two years, his grandson was able to convince Major League Baseball that Prince actually played in 1947. 1947 was the year a player had to of played in to get the pension.

Henry's self published memoirs will soon be released. "Princoirs: The Official Memoirs of Prince Joe Henry"

Here is a list of the 30 Major League teams and their draftees. Arizona- Bob Mitchell, Atlanta- James Red Moore, Baltimore- Bert Simmons, Boston- Jim Colzie, Chicago Cubs- Walt Owens, White Sox- Hank Presswood, Cincinnati- Charlie Davis, Cleveland- Otha Bailey, Colorado- Mack "Mac the Knife" Pride Jr., Detroit- Cecil Kaiser, Florida- Enrique Maroto, Houston- Bill Blair,Kansas City- Ulysses Hollman, L.A. Angels-Neale Bobo, Dodgers- Andrew Porter, Milwaukee- Joesph Scott, Minnesota- Bill "Lefty" Bell, New York Mets- Robert Scott, Yankees- Emilio Navarro, Oakland-Irvin Castille, Philadelphia- Mahlon Duckett, Pittsburgh-James Tillman, St. Louis Joe "Prince" Henry, San Deigo-Walter McCoy, San Francisco- Carlos Manuel Santiago, Seattle -John "Mule" Miles, Tampa Bay- Walter Lee Gibbons, Texas- Charley Pride, Toronto- Harold Gould, Washington- Mamie "Peanut" Johnson.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball is remembering the greatness of the Old Negro League with this player draft. It is an event long over do.

sources; Justice B. Hill www.mlb.com