Derrick Jones’ hobby has grown so big, that he’s turned it into a traveling museum. Jones, a former educator and baseball enthusiasts, has been collecting memorabilia from the Negro Leagues for more than 20 years.

Now, he travels through Virginia and North Carolina sharing his collection of vintage jerseys, baseball mitts, cards and more.

Renee Price works with Hillsborough’s Free Spirit Freedom group, and has teamed up with Jones to help share his collection.

“One thing led to another and here we are on Fourth of July weekend talking about America’s favorite pastime.”

Jones is bringing his pop up museum to the Whitted Building in Hillsborough over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate the Negro League’s history in the town.

“A lot of people don’t know about the Negro Leagues and I was surprised to find out that we have some stellar folks here in Hillsborough.”

Those folks include Lawrence and Richal Vanhook – a father and son who played for the negro team, the Hillsborough Allstars, in the 1950’s and 60’s.

“At five years old, I started off as the bat boy for them and I continued into the later 60’s,” Richal Vanhook said. “I came into play right at the tail end of the Negro League right before they disbanded. I started playing for them when I was 13 years old.”

Richal’s father, Lawrence Vanhook, was both a player and a coach in the Negro Leagues for more than 20 years. He remembers getting his start in rural counties before making his way to the Hillsborough team.

“I first got started in the rural areas by having a team around home. Then I went to the Hillsborough Allstars. I played there for several years and had an opportunity for the majors but just didn’t get big enough.”

Dickey Edwards is another legend of the Negro Leagues who also started his career at an early age.

“Baseball has always been my life. I graduated from high school and sort of got disappointed because I went to several tryout camps with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The two years that I tried out, it was always ‘You’re too small, you have a lot of talent, come back next year.’”

His luck changed when he tried out for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1967 at the age of 17.

“I ran upstairs, packed some clothes, and my mother said, ‘Where are you going?’ I said ‘I’m going to play ball.’ And that was my start.”

Rounding out the local legends celebrating the leagues’ history this weekend, is Horrace Johnson, who attributes his success to his killer arm.

“The catcher started talking to the batters and he came to me and said, ‘Alright Johnson, put some mustard on it and throw at his head.’ I could bring it about 95 miles an hour back then. My first pitch was at the guy’s head. He ducked. The second pitch was at his head. Then he said, ‘Put a wrinkle on it.’ Today they call it sliders or they call it sinkers. So I did, and the guy twisted around like a pretzel. You’ve never heard so much cussing in all your life.”

Those memories have stayed with Johnson years after he played in the Negro Leagues and during his time in the air force.

“Sometime I sit down at night and I talk with my grandson and my son and we have fun about it. I have pictures that I show when I played with the Monarchs. It was fun times.”

All four former players, as well as Renee Price, joined Aaron Keck on WCHL.

 

The men talked about legends like Hank Aaron, “Cool Papa” Bell, and of course, Jackie Robinson, who are all featured in Jones’ interactive museum. Over 100 pieces of memorabilia tell the stories of the players who paved the way for Jackie Robinson to break baseball’s color barrier.

In addition to the museum, interactive presentations and appearances from some of the Hillsborough Allstars will celebrate the league’s history. A friendly softball game is also open to the community. More information about how to get involved can be found on the town’s Facebook page.