After previously donating to its restoration effort, rock star Jack White will play in a charity baseball game at Hamtramck Stadium on Thursday, July 11.
In March, it was revealed that White–a Detroit native and baseball fan–had donated $10,000 to a fundraising campaign led by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), Piast Institute, and Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium to restore the venerable facility. The goal has been to bring the Negro Leagues ballpark in Hamtramck, MI back into working order through a renovation. As envisioned, the restoration would bring new life to Hamtramck Stadium by converting it into a multi-purpose recreation and community space that could be used for several sports, including baseball and soccer.
Fundraising efforts will continue with a sand-lot style charity baseball game at Hamtramck Stadium on Thursday, beginning at noon local time. White, who is currently on tour with his band the Raconteurs, will be playing for the Warstic Woodmen as they take on “a local team of ‘all-stars,'” according to a press release. Admission to the game is free, and fans are encouraged to bring folding chairs, water, and sunscreen. Donations to the friends of Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium will be accepted, and merchandise made by Warstic–a Dallas-based sporting goods company partially owned by White–will be available for purchase to help benefit the ballpark’s restoration effort.
You can read more about the event here.
Hamtramck Stadium originally opened in 1930 and was home to a variety of Negro Leagues teams, including the Detroit Stars and Detroit Wolves. Its preservation effort is notable in several respects, as it is among a small number of Negro League ballparks that remains standing today. Should the restoration be completed, Hamtramck Stadium would serve a wide range of sports as well as community events.
Image courtesy Hamtramck Stadium preservation group.
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