#Spotlight – This week we celebrate the men and women of the music world and their ties to the great sport of Baseball.
First up is Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, who in addition to being one of the great entertainers of his day, was also a huge baseball fan who founded and was the co-owner of the New York Black Yankees.
The team was originally known as the Harlem Black Bombers but became the New York Black Yankees in 1936.
Here is Robinson coming up from the dugout and a letter that he sent to the fan who took the picture. The letter is signed “Copecetically” Bill Robinson.
Pictured here is a photo from September 23, 1947. In the photo, Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Jackie Robinson, right, receives the keys to a car from tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson as Jackie Robinson's wife, Rachel, looks on at Ebbets Field in New York. The car was a present to Robinson for the team winning the National League championship.
Next up is Louis Armstrong. Pictured here in 1931 with team he sponsored in New Orleans. Armstrong is on the right leaning on the bats.
At the top of the picture is written, “Armstrong’s Secret ‘9’ Base Ball Team of New Orleans, La. 1931.”
Read the story of “Armstrong’s Secret 9" here.
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