2001 Fleer Greats of the Game Autographs, Wilmer Fields ⭐ Negro League Great
A celebration of Black History Month continues with a salute to Wilmer Fields.
Fields was not a headline star, but he was a legitimate Negro League professional who earned a roster spot on a premier club - the Homestead Grays.
He played alongside Hall of Fame legends such as Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, and Cool Papa Bell.
Thank you Fleer for this preserved artifact of Negro League baseball that exists because Fleer intentionally documented players like Fields before they were lost to history.

2001 Fleer Greats of the Game Autographs, Monte Irvin ⭐ MLB Pioneer
A celebration of Black History Month with a salute to Monte Irvin.
Monte Irvin overcame countless obstacles to become one of the best MLB players of his day, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
As a player, Monte Irvin was a star in the Negro Leagues, with the Newark Eagles, before starring with the NY Giants in the N.L.
Whether it was in the Negro League or N.L., he was one of the most feared hitters of his era.
When he finally reached Major League Baseball with the New York Giants, he helped lead them to a 1954 World Series championship and finished third in the 1951 NL MVP voting. To say he excelled at baseball's highest level would be an understatement considering he lost years of his prime to U.S. segregation policies and three years while serving his Nation in the U.S. Army (1943-45).

2001 Fleer Greats Of The Game Autographs #46, Lester Lockett ⭐
Black History Month celebrations continue, with an on-card auto of a forgotten Negro League star.
I didn't know who Lester Lockett was until I discovered this set and the Negro League stars in it.
He represents the vast middle class of talented Negro League players who were very good, highly skilled, and essential to the leagues’ quality, even if they never became legends.
Lester played for the KC Monarchs, Baltimore Elite Giants and others. The Monarchs, in particular, were the gold standard of Negro League franchises especially in the 1930s when Lester played for them. Simply appearing on their 1930s roster suggests Lockett had real ability, as Kansas City was known for deep, competitive rosters.
His name isn’t widely recognized today for lack of data, not lack of talent -- incomplete box scores. lost team records, and limited press coverage all contribute to the information gap.

2001 Fleer Greats Autogrphs, Sam Jethroe ⭐ MLB Pioneer
The celebration of Black History Month continues with this magnificent looking card of one of the fastest men to ever play baseball.
Sam "The Jet" Jethroe.
Sam Jethroe won NL Rookie of the Year in 1950 with the Boston Braves at 33 years old. He was denied a meaningful opportunity in MLB during his prime years due to racism that existed in baseball at the time.
Notwithstanding he was a super star in the Negro Leagues, where he was regarded as one of the fastest and most dynamic players in baseball.
Jethroe’s speed was elite even by modern standards. In his rookie season, he led the National League in stolen bases (35) and triples (9). He was so fast that teammates claimed he could beat out routine ground balls and turn singles into doubles almost at will—hence the nickname “The Jet.” He also won the N.L. stolen base title in 1951.