ABC/Nicole WilderJack White is participating in a charity baseball game that will raise funds to restore Hamtramck Stadium, a historic ballpark located just outside of the musician’s hometown of Detroit.
White, along with his Raconteurs band mate Brendan Benson, will take on a team of local “all-stars” for the game. Other participants include Ben Jenkins, who founded the Warstic baseball bat company — which White co-owns — as well as Tori Kinsler, sister of MLB player and fellow Warstic co-owner Ian Kinsler.
The game takes place Thursday, July 11 at noon. Admission is free, and donations will be accepted.
In the 1930s, Hamtramck was the home of several Negro League baseball teams, including the Detroit Stars and the Detroit Wolves. Among the future Hall of Fame players who took the field at Hamtramck: Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Norman “Turkey” Stearnes. The stadium is one of the few ballparks remaining from the Negro Leagues era.
In March, White donated $10,000 to help restore Hamtramck’s grandstand seating, and repair its field for future baseball and soccer games. The project has since surpassed its initial $50,000 fundraising goal.
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