I have told you previously that one of the best things about my job is the people I get to meet. This past season, I had the extreme honor of meeting and visiting with former Negro League player Prince Joe Henry. The Grizzlies did a salute to the Negro Leagues Night on August 3rd against the Chillicothe Paints. Hopefully people know the story of Prince Joe, but probably not 
everyone.
everyone. Joe is a Brooklyn, IL native who played roughly four full (parts of eight) seasons in the Negro Leagues, beginning with the Memphis Red Sox in 1950. Injuries forced him to leave the game in 1952, but he resurfaced with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1955. His nickname comes from some of things he did while "playing" with the Clowns, like turning his back to the pitcher before spinning around when the pitch came. When he hit a home run he would slap the catcher's hand, slap the umpire's hand, even have a conversation with a fan before circling the bases. He once came to the plate in the middle of the summer in a full tuxedo, tails and all. He was Clown Prince Joe Henry. Or Prince Joe. When it was decided in the early 2000's that Negro Leaguers would get a pension from MLB, Joe applied, only to be denied, numerous times, for various reasons. I won't get into the full story, though I will include some links to a couple of really nice stories regarding that issue.
The reason I wanted to write is because of what Prince Joe did for me. He transported me to a time I can only now read about. We talked for two half innings (one of them a long inning) on that humid, hazy August night, and it wasn't enough. I usually keep guests for a single half inning, yet I could have spent hours visiting with Joe about the things he saw, the players he played with, and what he called a better education than you could get at any college in America.
He told me the Grizzlies brought him back to a game he loved, and a game that he thought he was through with, yet I think anyone that had a chance to visit with Joe felt the same about him. Joe reminded all of us what the game is meant to be and why we work in this wonderful game. He was eloquent and nostalgic and just a true joy to visit with. Of all the interviews I have had the chance to conduct, this was my favorite. Hands down.
Price Joe still lives in Brooklyn, IL. He suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and, I believe, he is confined to a wheel chair. Don't let that fool you, he is as sharp as I assume he ever was. He writes a column for a weekly newspaper, the Riverfront Times. It is called Ask a Negro Leaguer. Fans write in with questions and he answers. I haven't seen the column for a couple of weeks and I hope they haven't discontinued it.
I think there are plans to repeat our salute to the Negro Leagues next season with the Grizzlies. I am sure, if at all possible, Prince Joe will be part of our night. If you're a baseball fan and in the area, or you're a Grizz fan and you missed the first night, don't miss it again. It will be well worth it. Trust me.Below are some of the articles I mentioned, as well as a link to our audio page, which I included part of that interview-where he talks about his situation. It is mostly the second half-inning we spent together, simply because it was shorter.
