Eddie Gates is accustomed to handling big assignments. A senior vice president and regional manager for Comerica Bank, Gates is responsible for overseeing operations at 17 banking centers in Western Wayne County.
But even his vast professional experience could not prepare for him the challenge that awaited him last Saturday, when he was given the assignment of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Comerica Park.
Gates was representing his company before more than 30,000 people in the stands. However, there was more on his mind, because the Detroit Tigers contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates was no ordinary game. As a matter of fact, it was the 16th annual Detroit Tigers Negro Leagues Tribute Game, which magnified the moment for Gates.
“I was most gratified and humbled to be asked to throw out the first pitch at the Tigers Negro League Tribute Game,” said Gates, who is closing in on 38 years of service with Comerica, sponsor of the event. “I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s in the small town of Griffin, Georgia. This allowed me to see first hand the importance of having a Negro League. Segregation was the theme of the day, but my parents never allowed us to be discouraged.
“My brothers and I got a chance to see some of the best athletes in the world play this great game on Sunday afternoons. Although most of the players never made the big leagues, in my eyes and heart they were bigger than life. This encouraged us to want to do more and dare to be great in whatever field we chose to endeavor.”
Prior to Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color line, when he played his first official game for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, the Negro Leagues were a booming business. At their height, the Negro Leagues held World Series and all-star games and featured some of the greatest performers to ever play the game including Hall of Famers like Satchel Page, Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard.
An example of the Negro Leagues’ popularity was the 1943 East-West All-Star Classic, which attracted more than 50,000 fans to Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The big name teams included the Kansas City Monarchs, Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays.
Detroit also had a presence in the Negro Leagues, most notably in the form of the Detroit Stars, and the Tigers paid homage to these heroes by donning replica uniforms during the annual Tribute Game.
“The Negro Leagues are an important part of the history of baseball and of America,” said Ellen Hill Zeringue, Detroit Tigers vice president of Marketing. “These gentlemen were pioneers and their true love of the game transcended the racial barriers that prevented them from playing in the major leagues.
“The Detroit Tigers organization is proud to host the annual Negro Leagues Weekend Celebration and to be one of the first teams in Major League Baseball to host a Negro Leagues Tribute Game in which the Tigers and their opponent wear the historic Negro Leagues uniforms.”
Joining Gates on the field during the pregame festivities, were students from Cornerstone Schools. The Comerica Charitable Foundation presented Cornerstone with a $10,000 check in support of the “Partner Program,” which Comerica also assists by providing volunteer employee mentors to students.
“I became a partner to provide encouragement and hopefully be a positive role model to young people,” said assistant vice president Al Thomas, who attended the game with other Comerica volunteers. “I have been with my current partner for almost eight years, from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.”
For Comerica’s Caroline Chambers, the Negro Leagues-Cornerstone Schools double play is a winning combination.
“Through this sponsorship, we wanted to highlight one of our valued community partners, and expose Cornerstone and it’s mission to the large stadium audience,” said Chambers, president of the Comerica Charitable Foundation.
“And it’s fitting that Cornerstone students were a part of the day. The game and the entire weekend were an important reminder of the historical significance of the Negro Leagues, especially for younger people and children who would not have firsthand knowledge of the trail they blazed.
“It’s just another opportunity for the students and our community to have a sense of pride.”
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