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Unearthed: Forgotten Baseball Heroes and Their Unmarked Graves

When Brendan Schuster discovered that Honus Wagner was buried just 15 minutes from his home, he never imagined this curiosity would evolve into a profound mission to honor forgotten baseball heroes. In this deeply moving episode, we journey with Brendan through Pittsburgh's cemeteries as he uncovers the unmarked graves of Negro League players who shaped America's pastime yet were denied proper recognition even in death.

Brendan takes us back to 2006 when a chance encounter with Buck O'Neil—the charismatic Negro League legend—transformed his understanding of baseball history. After meeting Vince Chiarmella during the pandemic and discovering their shared passion for baseball burial sites, the two launched the Josh Gibson Unmarked Grave Project, dedicated to identifying and properly marking the final resting places of Negro League players.

The stories Brendan shares are equal parts detective work and historical preservation. From finding Ernest "Pud" Gooden's burial site to connecting with the descendants of Willis Moody, each marker placed represents not just a name etched in stone but a legacy restored. Most touching is how this project has inspired the next generation—seventh-graders at Seneca Valley raised money selling lollipops to fund a grave marker, creating a connection to history they'll carry throughout their lives.

While the project has successfully marked 11 players' graves in Allegheny County, with 10 more identified, Brendan reveals the staggering truth that an estimated 3,000 Negro League players lie in unmarked graves across the country. His mission continues to grow, connecting communities to their forgotten heroes one headstone at a time.

Discover how you can support this remarkable initiative by visiting jgfmemorialmarkers.org and help ensure that these extraordinary athletes—who played three games a day with subpar equipment while sleeping on suitcases—finally receive the recognition they deserve.

Josh Gibson Foundations

(Unmarked Grave)

http://www.jgfmemorialmarkers.org

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