Five ways to experience Tampa's baseball heritage!

BASEBALL GAZETTE

February 22, 2022

We celebrate Black History Month with a profile on Walter "Dirk" Gibbons, one of the most talented baseball players to come out of Tampa. Noted local players and teams in the Negro Leagues of baseball's early days are also spotlighted in an interview with ABC Action News Sports Anchor, Kevin Lewis. It is always a pleasure to hear history and author, Wes Singletary, who Lewis interviewed for the story, share his vast knowledge of baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays have created a new All-Access video on the Tampa Baseball Museum that will air on Bally Sports all month. Thank you to all our readers and fans who follow events and activities at the Museum. Even before the first spring training game of the season, there are many ways you can enjoy local baseball traditions!

~Chantal Ruilova Hevia, President and CEO

My career started when I was 8 years old, playing sandlot ball with the Pepsi-Cola Juniors. From there, I began playing with the Pepsi-Cola Giants and the Tampa Rockets of the Florida State Negro League.

- Walter "Dirk" Gibbons

Ybor City's Own Walter "Dirk" Gibbons

Born in Tampa in 1928, Walter “Dirk” Gibbons was raised in Ybor City. He started his baseball career early, playing sandlot ball with the Pepsi Cola Juniors when he was just 8 years old. In junior high school, he played for two teams in the Florida State Negro League — the Pepsi Cola Giants and the Tampa Rockets. As a result, he was barred from school sports because he was being paid to play.

Gibbons was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro National League in 1941, where he split the season with the New York Black Yankees. In 1948, he signed with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and played there for two seasons.

Gibbons' career really took off in 1949 when he was traded to the Brandon Greys of the Manitoba and Dakota League in Canada. During his time with the Greys, he won in an exhibition game against the Jackie Robinson All-Stars. His career lasted for nearly another decade in the Canadian league, only interrupted by his military service in the Korean War.

Gibbons went into semi-retirement, running a local business and later becoming supervisor for the University of Tampa’s Training Center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and named an honorary draftee for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008.

Walter Gibbons passed away in his home city of Tampa in 2015. He left behind a legacy of love for his community and for baseball.

ABC Action News Celebrates Black History Month

ABC Action News sports anchor, Kevin Lewis, paid the Museum a visit to take a closer look at the Negro Leagues exhibit. In honor of Black History Month, Lewis wanted to connect with teams like the Tampa Rockets and Pepsi-Cola Giants that played locally before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947. The spotlight on this era in local and national baseball included an interview with Tampa native and historian, Wes Singletary.

Tampa Baseball Museum gives glimpse into the past

Rays All-Access Features Museum

Tuesday 2/22 - 7:30 PM

Thursday 2/24 - 6:30 PM

Sunday 2/27 - 9:30 AM

Monday 2/28 - 3:30 PM

Thank you to the Tampa Bay Rays, who created a

22-minute video on the the Tampa Baseball Museum for their newest All-Access program on Bally Sports. The video features more than 100 years of local baseball history presented at the museum and includes commentary and interviews with Matt Silverman,

Trisha Whitaker, Wes Singletary, Al Lopez, Jr., Patrick Venable, and Chantal Hevia, among others. Following its premiere on February 14, the video will air on Bally Sports through the month of February on the dates and times at listed at left.

Little League Opening Day

Thank you to the Bayshore Little League for inviting us to participate in their opening ceremonies on February 12. The air was electric as children took the field while friends and family members looked on. Congratulation to President Dan Greco and all the Bayshore LL teams that will be fielded this spring season. The Tampa Baseball Museum is offering free admissions to all Little Leaguers for up to two children in team uniforms with the purchase of one full-price adult ticket. Special discounts are also available for youth groups of 15 or more who visit the museum. Contact Jamie for details.

Reserve Your Spot! An Evening of Fan Favorites

The Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the Tampa Baseball Museum have

teamed up to present the inaugural Baseball, Bourbon and Cigars, an

exclusive opportunity to engage with local baseball legends. The event on March 25, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, in the Garden of the Ybor City Museum State Park, offers all that its title promises as well as complimentary food, live and silent auctions, and amazing swag bags. Tickets go on sale soon and sponsorships are available. Get your tickets today, or call 813.400.2353 for more information.

Win Two Free Tickets

February and March are membership months at the Tampa Baseball Museum. All those who join or renew by March 15 at any of five benefit levels will be entered into a drawing for two tickets to Baseball, Bourbon and Cigars, a $300 value. The higher the membership level, the more entries you will receive. Member benefits include unlimited visits to the Museum, guest passes, discounts, and admissions to more than 1,000 museums and attractions throughout the U.S. with NARM and SERM reciprocal agreements (beginning at the Double Level). Membership donations support the Museum's exhibits and educational programs.

Join or Purchase Gift Memberships Today!

Visit the Museum

The Tampa Baseball Museum is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, military and students 18+ years of age, and $6 for children 6-17 years of age. Children 5 years and under are free. Advance reservations are not required but are a convenient way to plan your visit, especially since they include a VIP tour of the museum. Members and those who have received Guest Passes can make reservations online at no cost. Discounted Group Tours are available for both adults and children. Contact Jamie or call 813.400.2353.

Our Community

75th Annual Fiesta Day, February 26, 11am - 6pm . Stop by our booth on 7th Avenue during this traditional event that commemorates the history of Ybor City and highlights the heritage of its first immigrants. Cultural foods, arts and crafts, and specialty products will be featured along with live entertainment.

Buildings Alive! Ybor City Architecture Hop, March 10, 5pm - 10 pm. This year's 10th Anniversary hop has been expanded to feature tours of 10 buildings with light bites and drinks at at each stop. Purchase discounted tickets through February 26. Sponsorships for both Buildings Alive! and the Commemorative Video are still available. Send Send an email or call 813.247.1434.

Save the date for El Reloj's 100th birthday celebration on March 31. Tickets to the event at J.C. Newman Cigar Company are now available. Those who attend will enjoy a fabled part of Ybor City's history.

Donate

Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

Chair Steve Hovsepian

Vice Chair Vinny Dolan

Secretary Amy Waite

Treasurer Gil Polanco

Immediate Past Chair Stephanie Agliano

President & CEO Chantal Hevia

Member at Large Lynn Kroesen

Member at Large Amy Waite

Trustees

Lee Bell

Dr. Keith Berry

Brian Breseman

Lissette Campos

Anthony "Tony" Carreño

Kara Guagliardo

Aileen Pizzo Hanlon

James Howard

Molly Longmire

Joseph A. Malloy

Larry McCabe

Luciano Prida

Patrick Venable

The Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House is owned by the Ybor City Museum Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID No. 59-2274494. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent the law allows.