Project #JG20MVP
Press Release
NLBMarketplace Community Launches Campaign in Support of Josh Gibson Foundation
Project #JG20MVP encourages the re-naming of MLB’s MVP trophies in honor of Negro Leagues legend
5/11/2020 – Pittsburgh, PA
Acknowledging his role in maintaining MLB’s “color barrier”, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) voted last year to remove former commissioner Kenesaw “Mountain” Landis’ name from its annual MVP awards. One of several names that surfaced to replace Landis on the trophy is Negro Leagues Legend & Hall-of-Famer, Josh Gibson. On Monday May 10th, the NLBMarketplace community launched a multi-tactic social media advocacy campaign in support of Gibson’s candidacy and the Josh Gibson Foundation (JGF).
Started in July 2020, the NLBMarketplace community is an evolving grassroots collaboration between a global arts/small business community, and the living legacy of Negro Leagues Baseball – the families, foundations, and institutions dedicated to preserving the history of the Negro Leagues for the sake of building stronger communities today.
To date, the collective effort of the NLBMarketplace community has raised and donated more than $30k for organizations including the JGF, Buck Leonard Association, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation, while donating over 1000 additional hours of marketing services.
Running May 10 – July 12th, “Project #JG20MVP” is a new collaboration between the NLBMarketplace community and the JGF. The featured event of the campaign will be a bracket-style challenge, featuring the custom work of 75 Baseball Card Artists from 5 countries around the world. The challenge will be hosted by baseball card artists Jason Schwartz and Mike Smith, and will feature several prominent artists and celebrity judges, with polling and artist features on Twitter @nlbmart, and nlbmart.com.
Additional works of art and content will be shared throughout the campaign by artists from all around the world. Much of the work created during this campaign will be issued a Certificate of Authenticity and sold by the artists, with a minimum 20% donation made to the JGF.
The Josh Gibson Foundation believes in the endless possibilities for potential in today’s youth. By providing academic and athletic programs that foster leadership and scholarship, the skills necessary for tomorrow’s successes are created today. Since 2005, the JGF has been developing and providing programming for at-risk youth in Pittsburgh. To learn more about the JGF, please visit joshgibson.org, and to learn about the case for the Josh Gibson Memorial MVP Award, please visit jg20mvp.com.
Your coverage of this campaign and its participants directly supports the shutdown-affected arts community, as well as the kids and families served by the Josh Gibson Foundation. Please contact us for more information.
Media Contacts
NLBMarketplace:Tad Richardson, Co-Founder. E-Mail 206.353.8658 IG @nlbmart Twitter @nlbmart
Josh Gibson Foundation: Sean Gibson, Executive Director. E-Mail 412.589.1906 IG @joshgibsonfoundation Twitter @JoshGibson_1911
Card Art Campaign Hosts: Jason SchwartzE-Mail Twitter @heavyj28 and Mike Smith E-Mail Twitter @mrshakecardart
Header Art
by Noah Stokes IG: @noahstokesart