The Chattanooga Lookouts will be hosting their inaugural Negro League Baseball Night Saturday, presented by Erlanger. This event will pay homage to the baseball history of Chattanooga and feature former Negro Leaguers Carl Long and Clifford Layton.
To honor the impact Negro League Baseball has had on the Scenic City, the Chattanooga Lookouts and their opponent, the Huntsville Stars, will don commemorative uniforms of the Homestead Grays (Lookouts) and the Newark Eagles (Stars).
“Negro League Baseball is an important part of baseball’s legacy in Chattanooga,” said Lookouts’ Senior Corporate Sales Executive Harold Craw. “It’s a privilege to be able to host two legends of the sport and shine a spotlight on the importance these players and their contemporaries had on today’s game.”
Prior to Saturday’s contest Mr. Long and Mr. Layton will be recognized on-field and will be available to sign autographs during the game. Mr. Long played in the Negro Leagues and Minor Leagues, playing for the Philadelphia Stars and the Birmingham Black Barons. The Negro League All-Star broke the color barrier in 1956 when he played for the Kinston Eagles of the Carolina League and hit .291 with 18 home runs and 111 RBIs.
Mr. Layton also played in the Negro Leagues and pitched for the Indianapolis Clowns (1951-53) and the New York Black Yankees (1954). As a member of the Black Yankees the right-hander played alongside the great Hank Aaron.
Pre-game festivities begin at 7 p.m. with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Limited Negro League merchandise will be available at the Team Store and special inserts will be offered with the purchase of our Game Day Program. Tickets for Negro League Baseball night are on sale now and can be purchased at
www.lookouts.com or over the phone by calling 267-4TIX.