Kicks Inspired by the Negro Leagues
With the news of Major League Baseball incorporating all Negro League stats into its official record books as of May 29, 2024, there has rarely been a time that the players, teams, and history of the Negro Leagues has been more in the limelight in the modern age. It’s truly a wonderful time for the sport of baseball.
The refreshed attention on the Negro Leagues has us at Topps excited and reminiscing about a number of things, including what we’re here to talk about today: sneakers. Throughout the years, sneaker companies have commemorated the Negro Leagues with various special edition releases celebrating the Black players and teams that created the invaluable histories of baseball and civil rights that are being honored more than ever now.
The history of sneakers commemorating the Negro Leagues began in 2006 with Nike’s collection dubbed the “Untold Truth” pack that was intended to put the spotlight on various Negro Leagues teams. The collection, which Nike partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to launch, included the Air Force 1, Dunk High and Low, Air Trainer Max, Air Trainer SC, and Air Max 1, each with a special colorway and details related to a famous Negro Leagues team. The “Untold Truth” pack continued in 2007 and ‘08 with even more special releases. YouTuber OGSneekerz has a great video highlighting some of the Untold Truth pack, and you can continue below for a look at some of the collection.
Untruth Pack Kicks
New York Cubans Air Force 1 Low
The NY Cubans are one of the best known Negro Leagues teams, active from the 1935 to 1950. The Cubans won the Negro League World Series in 1947 with a team that included stars Luis Tiant Sr. and Minnie Miñosa.
Ethiopian Clowns Nike Air Force 1 Low (2006)
The Ethiopian Clowns are another one of the most well-known Negro Leagues teams, partly because they were the last of the leagues’ teams to disband, continuing to play exhibition games into the 1980s. The Clowns were mostly active from the 1930s to ‘60s, with the franchise moving multiple times from Florida to Cincinnati, Ohio, to Indianapolis, Indiana. Baseball legend Hank Aaron signed his first professional contract with the Clowns in 1952.
Josh Gibson Nike Dunk High (2007)
No player’s name has been in the headlines more since MLB incorporated Negro Leagues stats into its records more than Josh Gibson, who now holds a place at or near the top of multiple categories including the new all-time leader in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS. This Dunk High references his time playing in the Mexican League for Azules de Veracruz in 1940 and ‘41\
Satchel Paige Nike Air Max 90 (2007)
This rare Air Max 90 honors Leroy “Satchel” Paige, one of the greatest and most dominant pitchers to ever play the game in any league. His career spanned five (!) decades, beginning in 1927 with the Birmingham Black Barons and concluding in 1965 with MLB’s Kansas City Athletics.
