First published by KDKA-TV CBS Pittsburgh on July 7, 2023 by Ross Guidotti
A special grave marker was revealed to the public in North Braddock on Friday.
When you think of the great Negro League baseball players, Ernest Gooden’s name does not come up much, but he could play. He suited up for the Pittsburgh Keystones and the Homestead Grays in the 1920s.
He died around the age of 34, and his resting place was forgotten until Vince Ciaramello came along.
“We’ve identified 17, so far, that are in unmarked graves in Allegheny County,” Ciaramello said.
He, along with his wife and son, made it their mission to find the unmarked graves of Negro League players in the area.
