Omaha's celebration of Rockets takes flight

The Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers celebrated their diversity night by taking the field as the Omaha Rockets, and lived up to that billing by blasting off for an 8-3 victory over Indianapolis.

Part of the club's community celebration series, Saturday was Omaha's Negro Leagues Tribute Game at Werner Park. The city served as a home to several Negro League teams -- including the Omaha Giants (1911-15), the Omaha Black Tigers (1948) and the Omaha Monarchs -- but the Rockets bolstered some of the most impressive rosters over their tenure from 1947-49.

"It was a great night and we won the game as the Rockets, so that was the cherry on top," Storm Chasers president Martie Cordaro said. "It was a very diverse crowd and a great night to celebrate diversity and the Rockets and what the Negro Leagues have meant to pro baseball here and in the country."

The Rockets were a barnstorming team that played games across the Midwest in the Pioneer Nite League and Nebraska Independent League. When the team played games in Omaha, they took place at several locations across the city -- from Creighton’s campus to Levi Carter Park and in Council Bluffs.

Owner and manager Will Calhoun, who formed the team in 1947, organized preliminary training with the Negro National League’s Kansas City Monarchs and even brought on board players to the Rockets with ties to the Monarchs.

Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige pitched for the Rockets in 1947 before signing with the Cleveland Indians in 1948. Paige's national profile rose while he was pitching for the Monarchs in the 1940s. Fellow Hall of Famer Bob Gibson and Gene Collins began their careers with the Rockets. NFL Hall of Famer Dick "Night Train" Lane also played with the Rockets during the 1947 season.

The Rockets became the official farm team for the Monarchs in 1950 -- managed by Monarchs alum James “Cool Papa” Bell. In August 1950, the Rockets disbanded as the Negro League circuits began to dissolve and Major League teams signed away many of the most talented players from the Negro Leagues.

Last night we played as the Omaha Rockets, an independent Negro League baseball team from Omaha, in honor of our Negro Leagues Tribute Night. pic.twitter.com/w3UEtMHdBx

— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) July 16, 2023

On Saturday, the Storm Chasers donned Rockets-inspired jerseys and hats. The evening also highlighted Black-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations in Omaha, while a Negro Leagues Baseball Museum display was exhibited on the concourse. Throughout the game, the team paid tribute to Omaha's Black history on the videoboard.

"We wanted to highlight businesses in the community with minority leadership, and we distributed ticket vouchers throughout the community for those that wouldn't normally attend a pro baseball game," Cordaro said. "This was the third straight year that we celebrated a diversity night, but the first time we honored the Omaha Rockets and it was pretty special."