In celebration of Black History Month, the Tacoma Buffalo Soldiers Museum is hosting a virtual baseball event on Thursday, Feb 25 at 6:30 pm PST. This 45 minute program will feature a virtual panel of celebrity guests and call-in attendees.
Panelists will discuss “Buffalo Soldier” history as well as share personal experiences in the Negro League and the National Baseball League. Discussion on individual contributors to these historic events will also occur. Virtual attendees will be able to ask questions of the panelists.
Guest panelist include Seattle born Bill North, former outfielder for the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants. Joe Staton, also born in Seattle, who played first base for the Detroit Tigers, Lyle Wilson author of “Sunday Afternoons at Garfield Park … Seattle’s Black Baseball Teams 1911 to 1951” and Aaron Pointer, former outfielder for the Houston Astro’s and brother of the famous Pointer Sisters singing group. Members of the Tacoma Buffalo Soldiers Museum will also be on the panel.
This unique and informative event is free to everyone, but you must pre-register at the link below in order to receive the Zoom information needed to attend the event. Once on the link, just click the register block.
Additional information is available by calling the Buffalo Soldiers Museum at 253-272-4257. You can also ask about the museum’s new, first ever 2021 “Buffalo Soldiers Military Baseball Calendar” which is now available for purchase.
JAMES L DIMOND says
Join us for our celebration!
About this Event
Our event, “A Virtual Panel Conversation: Celebrating Buffalo Soldiers and Negro League Baseball”, will be held to honor the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and to identify their Negro League contributions to American baseball history. This will be an extraordinary opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate historical milestones while raising funds for the museum, community exhibits and youth educational programs.
Please register (no cost) for our event. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our website www.buffalosoldierstacoma.org. Thank you!
OUR PANELISTS
Celebrating Buffalo Soldiers & Negro League Baseball image
Bill North Former Major League Player, Two-time World Champion, Community Activist, and Financial Advisor
William Alex North (born May 15, 1948) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1971 to 1981, he played for the Chicago Cubs (1971–72), Oakland Athletics (1973–78), Los Angeles Dodgers (1978) and San Francisco Giants (1979–81). He was a switch hitter and threw right-handed.
Aaron Pointer Park Board Commissioner Metro Parks Tacoma, Sports Illustrated in 2019 “The Hard Road to .400”
Aaron Elton Pointer (born April 19, 1942) is an American retired baseball player. He played in the major leagues for the Houston Colt .45’s/Astros in 1963 and again in 1966–67. After his baseball career, he was a National Football League official. He is also known for being the brother of the four sisters who form the Pointer Sisters singing group. His son Deron, was an All-PAC returner/wide receiver who spent 1994 as a practice team member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Joe Staton Executive Director of Central Area Youth Association (CAYA)
Joe Staton was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, where he attended Garfield H.S., played baseball and graduated in 1966. Joe attended Seattle Central College, and was drafted originally by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967. Joe eventually signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1969, and played in the Tiger Organization from 1970 to 1974. He also spent 2 years in Mexico City, Mexico playing for the Mexico City Red Devils. Joe has been married to his wife Rhonda for 29 years. He is an avid golfer, and the Executive Director of the Central Area Youth Association (CAYA), a non-profit organization, and a charter member of its inception in 1964.
Lyle Kenai Wilson Researcher and Writer
Born and raised in Bellingham, WA, graduate of UW and UW Law School, practicing lawyer for 45 years. Married, wife Linda, three sons, Matt, Tim, and Pete, two daughters-in-law, Lindze and Audrey, six grandsons, Henry, Lennon, Cash, Eliott, Gustav, and Rudy, and one granddaughter, Nola (aka Princess Nola). Author Sunday Afternoons at Garfield Park (history of Seattle’s African American baseball teams), and articles published by SABR: Willie Foster and the Washington Browns (a Yakima team), The Harlem Globetrotters Baseball Team (which became the Seattle Steelheads), Mr. Foster Comes to Washington (regarding tours of the Chicago American Giants through the Pacific NW), and Andre Rodgers (first Major League player from Bahamas). Member Researchers and Authors Group, commissioned by the Hall of Fame, funded by a grant from MLB, that resulted in 17 additional Negro Leagues Owners/Players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
OUR MODERATOR
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Rick Rizzs Play by Play Voice for the Seattle Mariners
Rick Rizzs has been the play by play voice for the Seattle Mariners for 36 years, working alongside the great Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus from 1983 until 2010. Rick also spent three years has the lead voice for the Detroit Tigers. 25 years ago Rick and Dave Henderson along with 12 former Mariners players founded Toys for Kids charity which purchases brand new toys for homeless and underserved children in King County during the holiday season