Rube Foster Tournament in its 4th year and going strong

LORAIN, Ohio - The fourth annual Rube Foster tournament took place this past weekend at the Pipe Yard in the city of Lorain.

There were a couple of games on tap. Vermillion took on Clearview and Lorain / Elyria squared off to renew their rivalry, which has been going on since the early 1900s but ended in 1995.

There was a lot of enthusiam in the stands as this tournament is shaping up to be the place where teams want to play.

So, who is Rube Foster? He loved to play ball. He loved to manage. He was an owner and commisioneer. He was a renaissance man.

In 1920, he formed the Negro League and in 1981 he was elected to the baseball hall of fame.

As time has passed, the history has been slowly fading away. There are not to many ball players left and the ones that are getting up in age.

Four years ago, Ernie Nimmons walked into Ray Carrion's office in Lorain. A baseball tournament was born, honoring the father of the Negro League.

Ernie has quite the history. He barnstormed and played for the Indianapolis Clowns, Kansas City Monarchs and the Philadelphia Stars. In 1952 when he was playing for the Clowns, he was " Hammerin" Hank Aaron's roomate. As Ernie puts it -- "he batted 4th and I batted 5th."

Every year at this tournament, they honor a Negro League ballplayer and his family. This year, the honor was bestowed upon Eugene Bremer. A fierce pitcher for the Cleveland Buckeyes, who won the World Championship in 1945. Bremer pitched and won all four games he was in.

His son, Charles, is humbled and honored that his father is remembered for his accomplishments.