The Padres joined the rest of Major League Baseball on Sunday to commemorate the centennial of the founding of the Negro Leagues.
“Happy 100th anniversary to the Negro Leagues and thank you to the men and women that contributed to this great sport,” Padres outfielder Tommy Pham said in a social media post.
Pham specifically thanked Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
“Special thanks to my man Bob down in Kansas City for everything he does for the Negro Leagues Museum," Pham said.
Sunday’s festivities across MLB, originally slated for June 27, were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are part of the summer-long celebration of the Negro Leagues 100th anniversary.
MLB clubs planned special 100th anniversary ballpark and digital engagement activities throughout the season, including Negro Leagues tribute games with throwback uniforms, educational panels, documentary film screenings and special auctions to support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum or related organizations.
The Commissioner’s Office has engaged fans on social media, and MLB Network is celebrating the 100th anniversary with its programming this weekend.
After the kids-focused program “Play Ball” on Saturday morning, the Network followed with a special "MLB Tonight" program filmed at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds and Kendrick discussed the impact the Negro Leagues and its legends had on baseball.
On Sunday, Jim Kaat, Reynolds and Stephen Nelson paid tribute to the Negro Leagues throughout the "MLB Network Showcase presented by Chevrolet” telecast of the Mets-Phillies game.
MLB Network will re-air "MLB Tonight Celebrates The Negro Leagues 100th Anniversary" at 9 p.m. ET today.