The event will begin at 6 p.m. with the “VIP Reception with the Stars,” followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The award ceremony is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 for the dinner and ceremony and $125, which will include dinner, ceremony and “VIP Reception.” The Doral Desert Princess Resort is located at 67967 Vista Chino, Cathedral City/Palm Springs, California.

On November 2, the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame is proud to honor and pay tribute to the Hall of Famers spouses and partners with the “Forgotten Heroes Award.” As lavish events often honor our Hall of Fame Recipients, spouses and partners stand graciously by their side year after year, but many times go without so much as a brief mention. “It is such a treat and I feel our duty to give praise to the silent soldiers who have paid their dues and contributed to the success of our Hall of Fame recipients,” explains Hall of Fame President Arif Khatib.

In association with its local partner, KidKesty Productions of Palm Springs, the AAESHOF is dedicated to the development of opportunities for young, less fortunate people to gain exposure to positive aspects of life.

Among the distinguished honorees: Judy Pace, wife of Major League baseball player, Curt Flood. Judy Pace is the widow of Curt Flood, and one of the finest actresses in the entertainment industry with over one hundred TV/Film credits. Judy was the first African American to be under contract with Columbia Studios, 20th Century Fox and had a three-picture contract with American International Pictures. Judy was a pioneer of African American Actresses of the 60’s and 70s’.

On January 16, 1970, Curt Flood shocked the baseball world and America by filing suit against Major League Baseball and its reserve clause. Baseball had faced legal challenges in the past, but never had a player of Flood's caliber attempted to assail the game's sacred clause--which effectively bound a player and his contract to a team for life. Flood earned $90,000 a year yet accused baseball of violating the 13th amendment, barring slavery and involuntary servitude. With a few exceptions, the public and the media initially reacted to Flood's action in utter disbelief, branding the outfielder an ingrate, a destroyer, even a blasphemer.

Flood's case eventually climbed all the way to the Supreme Court. In the arguments, Flood's lawyer, former Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, put forth evidence that baseball's reserve clause violated the antitrust laws by depressing wages and limiting a player to one team. Baseball's defense team attempted to counter Goldberg's broad arguments for human and labor rights point-by-point, but the crux of baseball's argument dealt with such ideas as tradition and "The Good of the Game.” Their contention was that baseball, America's oldest and most loved game, stood as a broader symbol for the ways of the past, and that the largely abstract and myth-shattering arguments of Flood and his lawyer represent a very similar type of reform thought embodied in the Civil Rights Movement and campus protest. His suit opened the door to Free Agency in all of professional sports.

The eloquent protest of Curt Flood electrified this nation and altered forever the demeaning impact of the reserve clause in organized baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, and other professional sports. As a result, professional athletes and this entire country are the beneficiaries of his courage, tenacity and creative talents

Tickets can be purchased at www.afrosportshall.com. For additional information, contact Kim Meltzer at 818-516-1459. E-mail: kim@kidkestyproductions.com.

Note: Special groups rates (for this event) regarding sleeping rooms, spa and golf are available at the Doral Desert Princess Resort. Please call Kim Meltzer for more details or to book your reservation.