Former Negro Baseball League player visits Yokota

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Dennis Biddle captivated an audience of high school students here Feb. 9 when he spoke about the unwritten history of Negro Baseball League.

“We sat at the back of the bus, we couldn’t eat inside restaurants, and we also slept in the bus because we weren’t allowed to stay in hotels,” said Mr. Biddle, a former star pitcher for the league. “It’s important for kids to learn our history. Most of them don’t know or understand what we went through to open the door for today’s major league players.”

In 1953, Biddle, a 17-year-old right-handed pitcher, became the youngest league player when he signed with the Chicago American Giants. He won 16 games during his first year and went 15-4 the next season before his contract was purchased by the Chicago Cubs.

Unfortunately, his career ended when he broke his ankle while sliding to third base before the 1955 season. After baseball, he attended college and worked as a social worker for 24 years.

In 1995, Mr. Biddle was invited to attend the 75th anniversary of the league in Kansas City, Mo. He learned that very few of the 314 players still living had retirement and medical benefits.

He also said he discovered the “Negro League” name was never protected even though memorabilia and merchandise using it was being sold.

Anyone could use the name and make a profit, and there were rackets out there claiming to represent the players, he said.

In 1996, the remaining players, led by Mr. Biddle, copyrighted the Yesterday’s Negro League Baseball Players Foundation to help former players get benefits. The foundation offers various memorabilia such as signed baseballs, posters, calendars and bats, and it uses the donations to assist those in need.

Today, the 69-year-old pitcher, who resides in Milwaukee, travels the country visiting colleges, schools and military bases. This is his first tour of Japan.

“I believe that God didn’t put me on this earth ... just to play baseball. I’m here to make sure that young people know the true story of Negro Baseball League. That’s my true work,” Mr. Biddle said.