#monteirvin

Driving through Orange today, we happened to pass Monte Irvin Park. Opened as Orange Park in 1899, it was named for Irvin in 2006 and the statue was dedicated in October 2016, nine months after his death at 96. 🍊 Born in Alabama, Irvin moved to Orange as a child and starred at Orange HS. He played semipro baseball in town and then with the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League before the Giants signed him in 1949. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973. ⚾ #monteirvin #monteirvinpark #orangenj #nj #newjersey #newjerseydoesntsuck #northjersey #northjerseyadventures #baseballstatue #newarkeagles #negroleagues100 #negroleagues #negroleaguebaseball (at Monte Irvin Orange Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEH6TqvAFOw/?igshid=1y0vmqd3ykqt7

The great #MonteIrvin served America in #WWII — the war disrupting what would be a remarkable #baseball career. A member of the awesome 1946 #NewarkEagles #NegroLeague championship team, Irvin’s @MLB career would end up being much too short. Even still, his number 20 is retired by the #SanFranciscoGiants and he was elected to the #BaseballHallofFame in 1973. In 2006, #OrangePark in #EssexCounty, #NJ was renamed #MonteIrvinOrangePark and in 2016, a life size bronze statue was dedicated to him. @sfgiants @baseballhall ⚾️ (at Monte Irvin Orange Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuwkkcB3en/?igshid=zwuf6xp5zqhz