Negro League Bobblehead Dolls Honor Newark Eagles, Other Teams

NEWARK, NJ — As anyone that recognizes the names of Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby can attest, baseball can be a powerful barometer of racial progress.

This year, as the 100th anniversary of the Negro National League’s founding approaches, a crowdfunding campaign aims to create another watershed moment in baseball history: the first-ever set of Negro League team bobblehead dolls.

According to the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum (NBHFM), which is spearheading the Kickstarter campaign, the ubiquitous figurines have been around since the 1960s. However, vintage bobbleheads representing iconic Negro Leagues teams – including the Newark Eagles – have never been produced.

Partnering with the Dreams Fulfilled campaign and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the NBHFM has launched a fundraiser with a $15,000 goal. If the total is reached, organizers will be able to create a set of dolls that pay tribute to teams including the Baltimore Elite Giants, Birmingham Black Barons, Detroit Stars, Hilldale Club, Homestead Grays, Indianapolis Clowns, Kansas City Monarchs, Newark Eagles, Pittsburgh Crawfords, St. Louis Stars, Kansas City Monarchs (Road Jersey), New York Black Yankees, Philadelphia Stars, New York Cubans and Chicago American Giants.

As a nod to Black History Month, the Kickstarter campaign will end on Saturday, Feb. 29. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bobblehead will go to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum located in Kansas City, Missouri.

“Our goal is to produce bobbleheads that celebrate and commemorate the Negro Leagues while educating current and future generations about the league and its players, and we think bobbleheads are the perfect way to do that.” said Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the NBHFM.

“Museum visitors love seeing the vintage bobbleheads and we thought it was time for the Negro Leagues teams to be honored with a series of its own,” Sklar said.

• See related article: Montclair Brewery's New Beers Honor Harriet Tubman, Larry Doby
• See related article: West Orange Mom, Daughters Share Black History With T-Shirts

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