McCauley: Hall of Famer Leon Day’s 100th birthday celebrated at Babe Ruth Museum

From Mary Carole McCauley at the Baltimore Sun on October 30, 2016, with mention of SABR member Michelle Freeman:

Saturday in Baltimore was a blue-sky, soft-breezes, 70-degree, short-sleeves, glad to be alive day. The Hall of Fame pitcher Leon Day would have thought it a perfect day to play baseball.

It was also ideal for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Day, a former Baltimorean and stalwart of Negro Leagues baseball. About five dozen of Day’s friends, family members and admirers gathered at the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum to sing a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday,” reminisce and raise money for causes dear to Day’s heart.

The event included a raffle for an iPad Mini and the chance to purchase 60 lots of collectibles, including replica Negro Leagues baseball uniforms.

Separately, an auction featured a commemorative bat signed by Day, former Orioles great Brooks Robinson and late New York Giants’ star outfielder Monte Irvin. A calling card once owned by Leon and Geraldine Day could be purchased for $1. The starting bid was $500 for a card bearing the autograph of pitching legend Satchel Paige.

Michelle Freeman, president of the Leon Day Foundation, said 25 percent of the proceeds will be directed toward ensuring the futures of two youth baseball teams: the Yankees, who play in the James Mosher Baseball League, and the Carver Vocational Technical High School Bears.

Read the full article here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-leon-day-100-20161029-story.html



Originally published: October 31, 2016. Last Updated: October 31, 2016.