Negro League Celebration at Dunkin’ Park

Playing as the Hartford Schoolboys to honor the legacy of Negro Leaguer Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor, Dunkin’ Park hosted yet another great Negro League celebration. The pregame festivities, the Hartford Yard Goats Foundation awarding scholarships to students—two of them on behalf of Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor were some of the highlights of a game the host team lost 10-4.

Several people and organizations were recognized due to their social impact, something the Hartford Yard Goats organization always emphasizes on. Witnessing and photographing the display of their community outreach is one of the best things of being involved with the team.

With yet another big crowd, the Schoolboys fell behind in the score as the Portland Sea Dogs scored five times in the fourth inning and added two in the fifth. Hartford reacted with two in the bottom frame, but the damage had already been done.

However, it was good to be back at the ballpark. I had missed a couple of series due first to health issues and later to final exams. Fellow Cubans Dyan Jorge and Andy Pérez each got two hits, which put a little band-aid (at least to my national pride) on the fact that the team lost.

I also got the chance to spend some time with Lynette Taylor Grande (“Schoolboy” Taylor’s daughter) and part of her family, as I have been doing for the past three years since I first attended a Negro League Celebration.

Here some pictures from before and during the game.