Brewers honor Negro Leagues veterans

The Milwaukee Brewers hosted their eighth annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game on Saturday when they played host to the Miami Marlins. Prior to the game, the Brewers honored former Negro League players George Altman and Lonnie Harris.

Altman, 80, was an outfielder for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1955. Nicknamed "Jo-Jo," he played three months in the Negro Leagues before signing with the Chicago Cubs in 1959. He played for eight seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cubs, Cardinals and Mets and was an All-Star in 1961 and 1962.

Harris, 83, played eight seasons in the Negro Leagues as an outfielder with the Birmingham Black Barons and Memphis Red Sox. Nicknamed "Showboat," he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1953 and played in the East-West All-Star Game in 1953 and 1955. Aside from his baseball career, he earned three bachelor's degrees and a master's degree from the University of Memphis and taught special education and worked with the Board of Education for 20 years. 

The two men addressed the crowd prior to Saturday's game and were both overwhelmed with joy from the salute to the Negro Leagues. Harris said he is not a man of many words, but this was a night he will always remember.

-- Eric Harmon / MLB.com Real-Time Correspondent