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Crowdfunding effort plans to restore Hamtramck Stadium, former home to Negro Leagues baseball

Plans are underway to restore a Detroit-area ballpark that once was home to Negro Leagues professional baseball teams.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. says a crowdfunding campaign has been launched for Hamtramck Stadium. Organizers want to update the stadium for baseball, soccer, cricket and other community uses.

The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. If it reaches its goal of $50,000 by April 2, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s Public Spaces Community Places program.

Hamtramck Stadium is one of the few remaining ballparks used by separate Negro Leagues before Major League Baseball integrated in 1947. It was built in the Detroit enclave of Hamtramck in 1930 and was home to three Negro Leagues teams.

The Detroit Cubs played at Hamtramck Stadium
Courtesy of Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium /
The Detroit Cubs played at Hamtramck Stadium

Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio

Tyler grew up and went to high school in Ithaca, MI. For the first two years of his undergraduate career, he attended Mid-Michigan Community College and worked as the morning-show host at WMLM 1520AM in Alma, and as a sports reporter for the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun. In fall 2014, He transferred to the University of Michigan where he will graduate with a BA in political science next May.