Several years ago, I was fortunate to meet numerous Negro League players in Secaucus, New Jersey.  I was in baseball heaven; all of the players were ever so accommodating and genuinely humble.  For years I had seen pictures of Negro League baseball players.  Then, during one fall weekend, I not only met and took pictures of countless number of Negro league players, but also Lionel Hampton.  My time with those incredible players of the Negro Leagues inspired the Players of Valor, the Negro Baseball Leagues poem and visual poetry.