Join us as we celebrate
The League that put some Soul In The Game!
*Some events have been cancelled due to COVID-19
The Community Cup Classic Foundation in partnership with the Josh Gibson Foundation, Lifeline Sports, A Vision of Change, The City of Cleveland and League Park, will host events to celebrate the 2020 Negro League Centennial in Cleveland and the 75th Anniversary of the Cleveland Buckeyes first and only Negro League World Series title.
The Community Cup Classic Foundation was created to improve adult engagement in all facets of a young person’s development creating avenues where youth are shown appreciation by those within their community, their social groups or most importantly by those that reside in their homes. Partnering with the Josh Gibson Foundation, created to provide the type of access that he never enjoyed with the creation of facilities and baseball fields dedicated to the youth of the Pittsburgh community.
To celebrate the 2020 Negro League Centennial and 75th Cleveland Buckeye Negro League World Series title, these Foundations and core partners have plans to host multiple events throughout the summer and fall to raise awareness and garner continued support to achieve their goals.
Along with many other national events, COVID-19 seriously impacted the implementation of these signature events. However, despite the grim realities of the health crisis, these core partners remain steadfast and committed to continue with our efforts to commemorate these monumental dates and educate the community and raise awareness of the impact these important historical events had on America as well as Cleveland, Ohio.
As such, we will transition to a virtual worldwide platform to celebrate these historical accomplishments and begin our events with a series of historical presentations throughout the year by Ike Brooks, Negro League Baseball Historian.
Rename the MLB MVP Award the
"Josh Gibson Memorial Baseball Award"
2020 Soul In The Game Youth Baseball Showcase
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
Proceeds to benefit Youth Sports teams…..
- Saturday, May 2, 2020 – Youth Baseball Tournament
- (Historical relevance: First Games played by the Negro National League on May 2, 1920)
Where: League Park, 6601 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland, OhiO
2020 Soul In The Game Summer Youth Baseball Clinic
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
Led by Lifeline Sports, these free half day baseball clinics for all youth entering grades K-8th will feature instruction by guest professional athletes and collegiate coaches.
- Saturday, June 27, 2020
- (Relevance: Major League Baseball Honoring Negro League Centennial league wide)
- Price: FREE
- TIME: 9 am – 12 noon
Where: League Park, 6601 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
Negro League Centennial Presentations
There will be historical presentations throughout the year by Ike Brooks, Historian. Here’s the schedule for those programs:
- June 13… Black Baseball Chronology
- June 27… Bazooka Blasts – Luke Easter
- July 11… Like Being the 2nd Person to Invent the Telephone – the Legacy of Larry Doby
- July 25… Women Negro League Players
- August 8… The East-West All-Star Games
- August 22… A Day Worth Remembering – Leon Day
- September 12… The Magnificent 7 – Cleveland Negro Leaguers to the Majors
- September 12… Josh Gibson: The Legend Behind the Plate
- September 26… Satchel Paige: The Face of Negro League Baseball
- October 10… Cleveland Indians and Social Change
- October 24… Crossing the Line- the Re-Integration of Major League Baseball
- November 14… Negro Leaguers on the 1954 AL Championship Team
- December 5… A Million Thrills – The Second Time Around for Ted Toles, Jr.
To register for the Negro League Historical Presentations, click here
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
Proceeds to benefit youth and family programs of Community Cup Classic neighborhoods for youth with special needs…
- Saturday, August 2020
- (Historical relevance: First Negro League All Star Game played featuring the talented players of the Negro Leagues)
2020 Soul In The Game Fall Youth Baseball Clinic
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
Led by Lifeline Sports, these free half day baseball clinics for all youth entering grades K-8th will feature instruction by guest professional athletes and collegiate coaches.
- Saturday, September 12, 2020
- (Historical relevance: Start of 1945 Negro League World Series won by the Cleveland Buckeyes 4-0 over the Josh Gibson led Homestead Grays)
- Price: FREE
- TIME: 9 am – 12 noon
Where: League Park, 6601 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
Soul In The Game Discover Greatness Film Competition
Led by Madwerkz Studios, the SITG Discover Greatness Film Competition will feature emerging artists who are task with showcasing the rich history of the Negro Leagues influence on American culture.
The winning films will be released during the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. The film festival provides a forum for the work of diverse filmmakers to be viewed and discussed. In addition to its cinematic showcases, GCUFF nurtures its attendees in a variety of disciplines, offering panel discussions, workshops and symposiums.
- Saturday, September 12, 2020
- Event Details COMING SOON!
Where: Shaker Square Cinema, 13116 Shaker Square, Cleveland, OH 44120
2020 Soul In The Game Celebrity Throwback Softball Game
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
Proceeds to benefit youth and family programs of Community Cup Classic neighborhoods….
- Sunday, September 13, 2020 – Celebrity Softball Game
- (Historical relevance: Start of 1945 Negro League World Series won by the Cleveland Buckeyes 4-0 over the Josh Gibson led Homestead Grays)
- Price: $15 General Admission
- Watch The Live Broadcast FREE on the Community Cup Classic Foundation You Tube Channel
Where: League Park, 6601 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
NOTE: The Stadium’s capacity is only 300 seats! Seats will fill up fast! Get your tickets early. Tickets Coming SOON!
Community Cup Classic Foundation Negro League Centennial Gala
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
Saturday, October 2020
Proceeds to benefit Community Cup Classic Foundation youth and family programs of Community Cup Classic neighborhoods.
1945 Negro League World Champions
Join us as we celebrate 100 Years of The League that put Some Soul In The Game! Community Cup Classic Foundation in partnership with Josh Gibson Foundation, Lifeline Sports, and League Park, will host events to celebrate the 2020 Negro League Centennial in Cleveland and the 75th Anniversary of the Cleveland Buckeyes first and only Negro League World Series title. SIGN UP >
On February 13, 1920, Andrew “Rube” Foster led eight independent Black Baseball team owners into a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, MO.
Out of that meeting came the birth of the Negro National League, the first successful, organized professional Black Baseball League that provided a playing field for African-American and Hispanic baseball players to showcase their world class baseball abilities.
The Negro Leagues would operate for 40 years becoming a catalyst for economic growth in African-American communities across the country and helped spark social change in America.
On September 13, 1945, the Cleveland Buckeyes opened the first of two games at League Park in the Negro League World Series against the Josh Gibson led Homestead Grays.
The Homestead Grays led by Josh Gibson —
considered one of the greatest home run hitters, most feared sluggers of any era, and called by many “the Black Babe Ruth” —
had won seven consecutive Negro League World Series titles (1938 – 1944).
However on September 20, 1945, they were defeated (4-0) by the Cleveland Buckeyes in their first Negro League World Series appearance to win their only Negro League World Series title.