EAST VS WEST VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME SEPTEMBER 1ST BOWIE MARYLAND

ESPER at Baseball Game in Bowie Maryland

Opening Ceremony of the East vs West Vintage Baseball Game

The ESPER Day in Bowie Maryland took place on two days vice a single day due to the forecast of rain on August 17, 2024. The Baseball game was held on the rain date September 1st. ESPER again had a table on the stadium concourse. A smaller group of members attended the baseball game, Jean Lewis (MD), Roger Lewis (MD), Betty Sessions ((MD), Norrece Jones (MD), Damani Kazembe (DE), Rhonda Ingram (VA), Tenicia Ingram (VA) and ESPER President Howard Ingram (VA).

As special guest of NLLHOF Founder Dwayne Sims we again had a table on the stadium concourse. The table attracted good attention throughout the event. We had 4 youth to join and 5 adults to join. New members were given an introduction kit. A special youth stamp bag was made with stamps, a Baseball First Day cover (FDC), and a Black Heritage postcard for the event and given to youth that joined. Rosina created a stamp booklet related to Athletes, Olympians and Sports. The booklet was given to new members who joined and sold as well. Clarence made Stamp Art with Negro Leagues Teams, and Negro League Centennial photos for the event.

I throw out one of the first pitches and was one of eight people who had that honor. Prior to the start of the game, USPS Director Lisa Bobb-Semple, Fox 5 New Representative Wisdom Martin, Chief of Police for Prince George County Sheriff Department, and several other representatives from key organization who partner with Sims to sponsor the game throw out pitches. My daughter did a short video of me throwing out the first pitch.

A good time was had by all ESPER members attending and we were able to watch the game from where our table was on the stadium concourse. While sitting in the stands, Betty Session caught a fly ball and seeing a youth who had his glove with him, gave the ball to him as a souvenir.

The USPS was in attendance and selling the new Hank Aaron stamp sheets. Sims had a large booth set up with T-shirts, Negro League jerseys and hats. The special NLLHOF cachet First Day Covers (FDCs) and other items were also available for purchase. The special NLLHOF cachets FDCs, one has the Hank Aaron July 31st postmark from Atlanta, Georgia and one has the Hank Aaron August 17th postmark from Bowie, Maryland.

Submitted by Howard Ingram, ESPER President