The Negro League luminaries will be inducted during ceremonies to be held at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY on July 30.
The Negro League-Cuban League baseball connection was a very important factor in the development of the game in both countries, and we can think of no better repository of the history than the recollections of Monte Irvin and Connie Marrero.
With fan interest in Negro League baseball history reaching higher and higher levels during the past few years, it is good to see some attention being focused on Cuba--a home away from home for many Negro League stars in the pre-Castro years.
Negro means "fl" in the Spanish, Portuguese and ancient Italian languages, being derived from the Latin word niger of the same meaning.
From the 18th century to the mid-20th century, "negro" (later capitalised) was considered the correct and proper English word for slaves and freed slaves of sub-Saharan African origin.
In current English language usage, "Negro" generally is considered acceptable in a historical context or in the name of older organizations, as in the United Negro College Fund, and is used more commonly by those born before the post World War II baby boom.