Black History Month: Remembering the Negro Leagues

• As a part of its celebration of Black History Month, MLB.com has an interesting article today comparing the 1943 Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues to the incomprable 1927 "Murderers Row" Yankees. Read all about Buck Leonard, Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.


• There is another good feature on Pumpsie Green (at left on the right), who was the Red Sox's first black player - 12 years after Jackie Robinson began roaming Ebbets Field. There is also a story about the Red Sox celebrating Robinson's legacy, which could have been a Red Sox legacy had Tom Yawkey not foolishly passed on him.

• Speaking of Ebbets Field, I have finally found the location of where the historic park, which is now a public housing complex, used to stand. It is just off Prospect Park, if you were wondering...

• Back to the present, this is simply unbelievable. The excitement is building.

• Excitement is building in Milwaukee, too, as Bill Hall told Buster Olney:

"I think we have a great chance to compete in the Central Division. Health has been a big issue for us the last couple of years. We have Ben Sheets, J.J. Hardy, and Rickie Weeks fully recovered from injury and ready for spring training. Corey Koskie is our only question mark; we have great backups in case he isn't ready for the start of the season. We think we have the talent and depth to win the Central."

• Didn't I say this back in December?

• Oh, how Steve McQuiggan must be losing his lunch over this.