January 27, 2003

NEW NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION LINE OF CLOTHING GOES ON SALE AT JC PENNYS

NLBPA Merchandise Premieres on #1 Morning TV Show!


On February 17, 2003 between 6:30 and 6:45 AM, tune in to WJZ-TV, Channel 13 in Baltimore for the premiere showing of the NLBPA¹s own line of jerseys and ballcaps produced by Vibes Base Enterprises!

Rise and Shine with Marty Bass and Don Scott is the number one rated local morning TV show in the country, and they will inaugurate Black History Month with this fashion show of authentic Negro Leagues apparel. President of the Talex division of Vibes Base Enterprises, Stuart Ullman, said, “I am proud our company was chosen by the NLBPA to produce these beautiful replicas. We believe in their mission and are excited to be partnered with them.”

The first teams represented in the line-up include the Baltimore Elite Giants, Philadelphia Stars, Kansas City Monarchs and Homestead Grays, and on February 3rd you can see these affordable jerseys and caps being modeled by two former Negro League players: Ernest Burke (Baltimore Elite Giants, 1947-1948) and Bert Simmons (Baltimore Elite Giants, 1950). NLBPA board member Dr. Bob Hieronimus will join the players to discuss with Don and Marty the history of the NLBPA and this new line of official merchandise.

The NLBPA logo has been stitched onto these beautiful, comfy jerseys and caps and proceeds will benefit the remaining Negro (Major) Leaguers who played baseball for a profession before the desegregation of the game, which nullified the Negro Leagues by 1950.

Until now, the living legends of the Negro Major Leagues and their families have not benefited by the current marketing bonanza by one penny. This unprecedented collaboration with Vibes Base Enterprises changes all that with this officially sanctioned merchandise (see illustrations). A percentage of the profits from these jerseys and caps will be allocated to the guys who actually made the uniforms famous in the first place.

On sale now in selected J.C. Penny¹s stores nationwide, a Spring 2003 line will include more teams, sweatshirts, hooded and unhooded, as well as long and short sweatpants.