Play ball! ⚾️ In its heyday in the early 1930s, Hamtramck Stadium near Detroit was home to National Baseball Hall of Fame players like Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, “Cool Papa” Bell, and “Smokey Joe” Williams, and hosted legendary figures like Satchel Paige for games. Over 9,000 people attended its grand opening. When Hamtramck Stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, it was one of only 12 Negro Leagues stadiums left in the country (even fewer are still standing today). Only the pitcher’s mound could still be seen in the field, and the stands were dilapidated, fenced off, and overgrown. It hadn’t seen an organized baseball game in decades. Today, the stadium is once again operational thanks to the efforts of hamtramckstadium. The National Park Service helped fund the restoration through the African American Civil Rights grant program. Money for this program comes from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at no cost to taxpayers. The National Park Service pro...