The Chattanooga Lookouts and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center announced Negro League Appreciation Day at Erlanger Park, presented by Food City. The special celebration will take place on Saturday, May 2, during the Lookouts’ game against the Birmingham Barons.
This event honors the rich history and enduring legacy of Negro League baseball and its impact on the game and the community. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a commemorative Choo-Choos jersey pillow.
The day will begin at 10 a.m. with a special breakfast at Erlanger Park featuring former Negro League players, offering attendees a meaningful opportunity to engage with baseball history.
Festivities will continue into the evening with a pre-game concert at 5 p.m. featuring the Ogya World Music Band.
During the game, which starts at 6:30 p.m., the Lookouts will take the field as the historic Chattanooga Choo-Choos, paying tribute to the Negro League team that played at Engel Stadium from 1940 to 1946. The Barons will honor their own legacy by wearing jerseys of the Birmingham Black Barons, a founding member of the Negro Southern League in 1920.
The evening will also include appearances by former Negro League players, who will be recognized on the field and available for autographs prior to the game.
“Negro League Appreciation Night is an opportunity to honor the players whose talent, resilience, and determination shaped the game of baseball and our nation’s history,” said Paula Wilkes, president of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. “We are proud to partner with the Chattanooga Lookouts and Food City to ensure these stories are celebrated, preserved, and shared with future generations.”
Tickets for the events during Negro League Appreciation Day are available at:
https://www.bessiesmithcc.org/event-details/negro-league-appreciation-day or Lookouts.com.
Ms. Wilkes said, "This event reflects a shared commitment by the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the Chattanooga Lookouts to honor the past, educate the present, and inspire future generations through the stories of Negro League baseball."