NEW YORK -- Negro League veterans received pension checks
from Major League Baseball's new charity this week.
The charity benefits 27 players, all of whom played in the Negro
Leagues after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in
1947. It will provide more than $1 million in benefits to the
former players.
Checks were sent to players who were most in need, while the
rest of the group will receive checks at the end of June.
Major League Baseball and the Baseball Assistance Team are
handling the program.
Baseball set up a program in 1997 to provide pensions to Negro
League players before 1948. The new program will assist players
with four seasons of Negro League service after 1948.