2026 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
SABR’s annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference was held on June 18-21, 2026, at the SpringHill Suites Memphis Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee.
The conference was highlighted by a screening of the new film documentary Black Diamonds, Blues City: Stories of the Memphis Red Sox; a panel on Memphis Red Sox All-Star Bob Boyd with Thomas Van Hyning and Alex Painter; and a special presentation on Negro American League president J.B. Martin by J.B. Martin IV. Attendees also enjoyed a “meet and greet” reception at the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery on Beale Street; a Memphis Redbirds baseball game at AutoZone Park; and a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.
Presentations were given by Loren Broaddus, James Brunson III, Julia Bucci, Alan Cohen, Gary Gillette, Aram Goudsouzian, Clem Hamilton, Curt Hart, Chris Jensen, Ted Knorr, David Krell, Stephen V. Rice, Neil Sharma, Paul Spyhalski, Tom Thress, Daniel Torres, and Ryan Whirty. Click here to view the full conference schedule.
Click here to view a photo gallery at Flickr.com, with photos by James Brunson III and Sherman Jenkins.
About the Conference
The Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference promotes activities to enhance scholarly, educational, and literary objectives. Since 1998, the event has been the only symposium dedicated exclusively to the examination and promotion of Black baseball history. The conference is open to baseball and history fans of all ages.
Each year, monies are targeted to donate books to schools or libraries; raise funds for the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project; and award scholarships to high school seniors in a nationwide essay contest and an annual art contest. The Negro Leagues Committee is one of SABR’s original committees, formed in 1971. It has continued to preserve and highlight the contributions of African-American players in baseball history.
The committee published the landmark The Negro Leagues Book in 1994, which featured a complete register of more than 3,000 players, team rosters and in-depth histories from leagues of the late nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth.
Yoseloff Scholarship
With generous funding from The Nanar and Anthony Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to 4 scholarships to high school or college students to attend the annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference.
This scholarship will pay for registration, transportation and lodging (double occupancy) up to a total value of $1,250. Students must be currently enrolled in a high school, college undergraduate or graduate program, and be between 18 and 29 years of age at the time of the conference.
Essay Contest
SABR’s Negro Leagues Research Committee is pleased to award $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in its 18th annual Thomas R. Garrett Scholarship essay contest.
The contest is open to high school seniors and carrying a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the end of their junior year. Students have to write a 1,200-word essay answering a question related to one of the Negro League figures who are the namesakes of the scholarships.
Art Contest
The 17th annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference Art Contest is open to all artists in 2026. Art from the winners will be on display at an upcoming Jerry Malloy Conference. The theme is “Black Baseball and the Delta Blues.”
- Professional/Amateur Application: Click here to download an application (PDF). $30 entry fee for up to three (3) entries in professional or amateur contests
- Youth Art Contest Application: Click here to download an application (PDF). $10 entry fee for up to three (3) entries in youth contest.
The winning entry in the professional and amateur categories will receive a $150 prize and a certificate from the conference. The youth winner will receive a set of art supplies. Photos of the art will also be included in an upcoming issue of Black Ball: A Negro Leagues Journal, published by McFarland & Co. Deadlines to apply: August 18, 2026 (professional/amateur) or September 15, 2026 (youth)
Dick Clark Memorial Library Grants
SABR’s Negro Leagues Research Committee will award two $500 Dick Clark Memorial Library Grants for 2026. Click here to download a PDF application.
School and community libraries from across the country are invited to submit grant proposals centering on educating students and the community about black baseball and American history. Deadline to apply: September 15, 2026
