Fans near Chicago will pay tribute to a number of Negro Leagues veterans buried in historic Burr Oak Cemetery.  The Memorial Dedication Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, September 26, 2004 at Burr Oak Cemetary at NOON. 

Negro Leagues fan Jeremy Krock of Peoria, IL learned that former outfielder Jimmie Crutchfield, (who hails from Krock's original hometown of Admore, MO) was buried in Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL.   He was disappointed to find that Crutchfield did not have a marker for his grave.  So, working through the managers of the cemetery, he began an effort to raise funds for a new marker. 

While doing some research, the cemetery discovered that two other notable players, John Donaldson and "Candy Jim" Taylor, were also interred at Burr Oak with graves suffering without markers.  The effort has since expanded to include Donaldson and Taylor.

John Wesley Donaldson was an early era star of black baseball.  He is described as a "poised left-hander with pinpoint control," during his days with the mutli-racial All-Nation's team from 1913-1917.  The Glasgow, MO native served in WWI in France before returning to baseball and the great independent teams in Indianapolis, Brooklyn, New York, and Detroit from 1918-1920.  When the Negro National League was formed, he joined the Kansas City Monarchs and pitched for them, off and on, through the 1920's and 30's.  He stopped playing in the 1930s, but would later become a scout for the Chicago White Sox. Donaldson died in Chicago in 1970.

James  Allen"Candy Jim" Taylor  was a native of South Carolina and part of a strong family tradition of  baseball players. He toiled as an infielder in black baseball before becoming a sucessful manager in the Negro Leagues.  From 1904-1948, he was affiliated with well over 20 teams in black baseball.  He died in April 1948 in Chicago.

John William "Jimmie" Crutchfield shined during the "hey day" of the Negro Leagues.  Crutchfield was an outfielder for several teams, but experienced his best years with the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1931-36 on teams that also featured Oscar Charleston, "Cool Papa" Bell, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige.  He starred in several East-West All Star games and also played in Mexico and Puerto Rico.  After baseball, Crutchfield settled in Chicago and worked for over 20 years with the postal service. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 83. 

To learn more about the event contact:

Jeremy Krock
(309) 692-8056
jlkrock@insightbb.com

or

Burr Oak Cemetery
4400 West 127th Street
Alsip, IL  60803