Ryan Howard, a former Philadelphia Phillies slugger, is taking up the cause of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, inspired by his meeting with Buck O’Neil, a champion of Black baseball players. Howard and Padres manager Mike Shildt announced their involvement in the museum’s “Pitch for the Future” campaign, which aims to raise $30 million for a new facility to preserve the history of the Negro Leagues and its social impact. With dwindling representation of Black players in MLB, Howard emphasizes the importance of connecting Black youth with baseball and keeping the legacy of the Negro Leagues alive.
