Yesterday I went to #AtlanticCity to pay my respects to the great #baseball #HallofFamer, #JohnHenryPopLloyd. #PopLloyd starred in the #NegroLeagues from 1906 to 1932 and was one of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game. He was SO great that when the legendary #HonusWagner, one of the first five players inducted into #Cooperstown’s first class, commented on Lloyd being known as the “Black Wagner” he said, "I am honored to have John Lloyd called the Black Wagner. It is a privilege to have been compared to him. " Pop Lloyd lived out his post playing days in Atlantic City where he coached a semi-pro team named after the notorious politician, #NuckyJohnson and then the equally notorious state senator #FrankSFarley. He also became very active in local youth baseball and in 1949, Farley had a stadium built in town and named it for Lloyd. Farley didn’t exactly support this measure for the most altruistic of reasons, which is another story entirely, but #PopLloydStadium still stands and holds many events. In addition to the stadium named after him, there is also a Pop Lloyd Boulevard in the heart of Atlantic City, he’s on a mural in the main entrance at the (sadly) underused #SurfStadium (originally built in 1998 for an Independent league team and now host to youth baseball) and the city dedicated a plaque marking his gravesite. In this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, I wanted to make sure one of the true pioneers and greats of the game received some much deserved recognition. @nlbmuseumkc @nlbmprez @mlb @baseballhall @doac #NegroLeagues100 (at Atlantic City, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFsyu9yBO70/?igshid=13uuqofc27po0
