All former US Presidents who are still alive -- Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama -- have joined the celebration to honour the 100-year anniversary of baseball’s Negro Leagues in the US.
An important part of sport’s history, the Negro Leagues were launched in 1920, a time when Black athletes were excluded from playing in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Sports icon Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Negro National League stopped operations after the 1948 season. Robinson’s family tipped their caps as part of the Tipping Your Cap campaign in honour of the 100th anniversary.
Obama said: "Today, I’m tipping my hat to all the giants in the Negro Leagues, from Satchel Paige to Toni Stone and so many others. Their brave example, first set 100 years ago, changed America’s pastime for the better -- opening it up for new generations of players and fans alike."
Former MLB home run king Hank Aaron tipped his Atlanta Braves hat to mark the occasion.
Actors, comedians and sports legends like Michael Jordan and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who is part of an ownership group of the LA Dodgers, have also tipped their hats in honor of the milestone.
In addition to the current social media campaign, MLB also plans to honour the Negro Leagues during the season, which is scheduled to open later in July.
Photo credit: https://twitter.com/BarackObama
