HOUSTON, TX - The Reverend Ray Mackey III, Chairman of the Biz Mackey Family Foundation, enthusiastically led an inspiring discussion with John Quinones, the legendary seven-time Emmy Award-winning anchor and correspondent for ABC News' 20/20. During their high-profile meeting, the two shared their families' interconnected histories. Quinones was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas- the very city where Reverend Mackey's grand-uncle, National Baseball Hall of Famer James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey, began his historic career. Long before Major League Baseball reintegrated, Biz Mackey grew up working on the family's farm in Luling, Texas, before electrifying crowds as a star catcher for the San Antonio Black Aces. He later pioneered international baseball diplomacy through historic barnstorming tours, most notably across Japan in the 1920s and 1930s.
As one of baseball's most impactful heroes, Biz Mackey paved the way for future legends like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby. Reverend Mackey found a strong connection between his uncle's global legacy and Quinones' best-selling book, Heroes Among Us, which celebrates ordinary people making extraordinary choices. The book mirrors Quinones' own journey from humble beginnings to global network anchor. Inspired by this shared passion for storytelling and sports programming, the Biz Mackey Family Foundation is currently collaborating on a documentary and a feature film adaptation to bring "Biz" Mackey's extraordinary life and global sporting impact to international audiences.
The Biz Mackey Family Foundation continues to honor the legacy of the legendary Negro Leagues Baseball star by preserving its heritage and history, while engaging with the community both locally in San Antonio, Texas, and globally. Through the foundation's ongoing partnerships, similar to the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM), the foundation donates historical exhibit items and coordinates book donations to increase literacy rates and inspire local urban youth. In addition to its educational outreach, the foundation celebrated Mackey's sporting legacy at a San Antonio Missions baseball game, where family member Konner Mackey threw the ceremonial first pitch. The organization's mission extends far beyond its city of Houston base and Texas. By sharing Biz Mackey's journey, the foundation aims to elevate a vital narrative that transcends sports, framing it not just as a Negro Leagues Baseball story, but as a uniquely American story of an ordinary individual who left an extraordinary cultural impact on sports and global society.
In celebration of the 2027 Centennial of a historic sports milestone, a delegation of institutional partners and Negro Leagues Baseball ambassadors will travel to Japan to commemorate the 1927 Philadelphia Royal Giants (PRG) Tour of Japan. The landmark international tour is being spearheaded by the Japan Afro-American Friendship Association USA (JAFA) JAFA Japan. The Biz Mackey Family Foundation will serve as a key global ambassador for the tour. Reverend Mackey will travel alongside the distinguished delegation.
A major highlight of the 2027 Centennial celebration will take place at Tokyo's iconic Meiji Jingu Stadium. Reverend Mackey is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the historic venue, retracing the steps of his iconic grand-uncle, National Baseball Hall of Famer James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey, who hit the very first of three historic home runs at the stadium during the 1927 tour. The centennial delegation's mission goes far beyond celebrating sports history. Organizers emphasize that baseball serves as a powerful vehicle for cultural diplomacy. By honoring the legacy of the 1927 Philadelphia Royal Giants, the initiative continues to prove that global sport transcends racial, cultural, and national boundaries while fostering new bridges of understanding, opportunity, and friendship across the Pacific.
To learn more about the BEFORE42 Cultural & Educational Initiative, you can register and "Catch The Legacy" at the Freedmen's Town Conservancy, BLACKBALL, Baseball, Barbecue, and Blues Exhibition, Thursday, September 17th, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. The Reverend Ray Mackey will be the guest speaker along with featured choreography by the Houston Ensemble Theatre.