Big game tomorrow in Birmingham, Alabama, honoring the Negro Leagues and the one and only, Mr. Willie Mays. I would like to give a shout out today to Todd Cleveland, a professor at the University of Arkansas, as well as all the players he interviewed and shared their stories in his book - Following the Ball. The book is about the migration of African soccer players in their struggles in 1950 to 1975 from Angola and Mozambique to mainland Portugal during the end of colonization. Great book, I highly recommend it. Regretfully, I have not collected baseball, but would love to share some of my cards from my humble personal card collection of those players in Angola and Mozambique - to honor not only them today, but also all the Negro League players, and any athlete or person who has had to overcome discrimination. One of cards is my only 1952 rookie grail of the great Matateu, as well as his younger brother Vincente, who along with Eusebio, Coluna, and Hilario, later carried Portugal to their best ever World Cup finish of third place in 1966. Hope you will look up their stories. Reminder that tomorrow's game at Rickwood Field starts at 7.15 pm EST and 4.15 pm PST. Let us check in to hear and learn from their stories. Hope to start a chase for my first baseball collectible after watching the game tomorrow.
RIP Mr. Willie Mays.
1. Matateu 1952 rookie card (my 1952 grail card) from Azes Futebollistas collection.
2. Matateu in action for Os Belenenses club team. Insert from 1950's Mundo de Adventura comic.
3. Matateu's younger brother Vincente, who played on 1996 World Cup team. From 57/58 Caramelos JogadoresdaBola collection.