Got a bunch of hot items today …

The first is that the dedication of the William “Bill” Binga grave marker (above) has been scheduled! It’s slated for Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. (CST) at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis, according to Peter Gorton, the Minnesota baseball guru who has headed the project up for the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project.

Bill Binga was a star and crucial figure in pre-Negro Leagues African-American baseball in the first couple decades of the 20th century. But in addition to being a top-notch ballplayer, he was also part of an accomplished and influential family and heritage, which I discussed in this article for the Hour Detroit magazine Web site.

The Binga’s grave marker has been funded by the Dave Winfield Foundation; Hall of Famer Winfield, of course, played for the Twins for several years.