NEGRO LEAGUES CENTENNIAL TEAM BOBBLEHEAD SERIES: Montford Merrill "Monte" Irvin
| Item Number: | 2076445 |
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Item Description
The Negro League Centennial Team (1920-2020) is comprised of 30 of the greatest African-American and Cuban players from 1895-1947 plus a manager and a team owner. Each individual is depicted on a baseball-shaped base with replica of Kansas City's Paseo YMCA, the site where the Negro National League was organized on February 13th, 1920. The bobbleheads are officially licensed by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and approved by the families when applicable. Each player is individually numbered to only 2,020. This bobblehead is of Montford Merrill "Monte" Irvin, a member of the Newark Eagles. Irvin was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.
Irvin may be New Jersey's best athlete ever, winning 16 varsity letters over four years despite contracting a near fatal illness. Irvin began playing for the Newark Eagles before high school graduation under the pseudonym "Jimmy Nelson" to protect his amateur status. In 1942 Negro Leagues' owners and players, aware that integration was coming, conducted a poll to determine their choice for the first player to break the color line. Irvin was the top choice. His opportunity was lost due to his service in World War II (1943-1945). After the war Irvin worked hard to regain his form, but many players who saw him both before and after his wartime service, felt his Army years had eroded his baseball skills.
Irvin may be New Jersey's best athlete ever, winning 16 varsity letters over four years despite contracting a near fatal illness. Irvin began playing for the Newark Eagles before high school graduation under the pseudonym "Jimmy Nelson" to protect his amateur status. In 1942 Negro Leagues' owners and players, aware that integration was coming, conducted a poll to determine their choice for the first player to break the color line. Irvin was the top choice. His opportunity was lost due to his service in World War II (1943-1945). After the war Irvin worked hard to regain his form, but many players who saw him both before and after his wartime service, felt his Army years had eroded his baseball skills.