It's all for the love of the game, as Medlar Field at Lubrano Park commemorated the Negro Leagues last night, joined by former Harrisburg Giants players in a tribute.

Three players who sometimes played without the proper equipment, coaching or facilities joined curious spectators at the ballpark to share their stories about the game they loved -- and still do.

Willie Fordham, Jim Weedon and Dan Warner, who played for the team in the 1950s, were made available in the stadium's concourse and right outside of the ballpark to talk to fans.

Fans had the opportunity to chat with the players and learn about the rich history of the Negro League and the Harrisburg Giants, a Negro team located in the state capital.

"Our job is to get the word out about the job we did and the way we played as baseball players," Fordham said.

"People appreciate the way we educate the public by speaking at different colleges and high schools."

Though famous for its legendary players like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, it's a little known fact that some white men actually played in the Negro Leagues. The Giants were one of the first integrated teams in the Negro League.

The team consisted of only six white players on a team of 22. Warner was the first white man to come over to the team during the integration period in 1955.

With the integration of white players onto the team, the attendance to Giants games doubled.

"I was accepted on the team without any problems," Warner said. "I was there to play baseball."

But Warner and his teammates weren't able to get by without any hardships.

When it came to road games for the Giants, it was a bit more difficult to adjust to the surrounding elements of away cities.

Without team busses or transportation, players often had to carpool with one another to get from city to city. Restrictions didn't allow them to travel outside of a 200-mile radius.

"Discrimination ran rapid on the road," Fordham said.

"We had to search for places to stay and to eat, we had to stay with black families in their home."

Now, baseball teams of today welcome the opportunity to honor the players who endured many difficulties to play the game they loved.

All three baseball players were recognized with the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at last night's Spikes game against the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The players on the field were able to celebrate the Negro Leagues, too, by wearing throwback jerseys as a tribute to all the former Negro teams.

"It was nice to be able to wear the jersey that they once wore," Spikes second baseman Matt Cavagnaro said. "It let us see what it was like to be playing baseball during that time."

The next stop for the former Harrisburg Giants will be July 31, 2007 in York, Pennsylvania.