Greason, the oldest living Negro Leaguer and a former teammate of Willie Mays, is an “integral” part of Yastrzemski’s Heart and Armor foundation.
Former Negro Leagues player Bill Greason throws out the first pitch before the start of a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants at Rickwood Field, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Birmingham, Ala.
For outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and many others in attendance, their presence was overshadowed by a man who played only four games in Major League Baseball. He is the oldest living former Negro Leaguer and, after being handed the ceremonial baseball by Jeter, lobbed an overhand strike to Ron Teasley Jr., the son of one of the only remaining men to have played in the Negro League era, which ended in 1948.“Going to Iwo Jima, having a relationship with Willie, having the courage to do what he did here and go play in the big leagues for four games,” Yastrzemski said.
Greason’s background made him the ideal subject for Heart and Armor, a veteran-focused foundation supported by Yastrzemski, who called him an “integral” piece of the group. They had spoken over Zoom a handful of times but never met in person. At the core of every pro ballplayer is a kid who developed a love for the game imitating his idols in the backyard. At times, yes, even big leaguers are susceptible to being starstruck. So, when Matt Chapman spotted Jeter on the third-base foul line, he couldn’t pass up his opportunity to introduce himself.
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