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This 4-card series by Aaron Kleiber honors the centennial of one of the most powerful and complex games in American sports history on June 21st, 1925 in Wichita, Kansas. Founded as part of the Coloured Western League, the Wichita Monrovians, formerly known as the Black Wonders, club president J. M. Booker, an attorney in Wichita, and partners, name inspired by Monrovia, the capital of African nation, Liberia, symbolizing Black self-determination. First incorporated as The Monrovian Corporation, later the Monrovian Park Association, with a stock value of $10,000. A value of roughly $150,000 today. “One of the first colored corporations in the West” to own and maintain both a team and a ballpark. The team was entirely run by Black professionals and used ticket sales to support social causes such as Phyllis Wheatley Children’s Home, which also sponsored one of the first organized women’s baseball teams. In 1923, the Monrovians reportedly finished with an incredible 52–8 record, playing not only Black leagues but also white industrial and amateur clubs. The Monrovians vanished by the early 1930s, but their legacy as a cultural powerhouse in 1920's Wichita remains. JUNE 21ST,1925. ISLAND PARK STADIUM. WICHITA, KANSAS.The 'Wichita Klan Lodge 6' played a baseball game against the former Western Coloured League powerhouse, the Wichita Monrovians. After being ousted by Kansas legislature that year, no longer able to hold charter status, the Kansas Klan looked for last ditch 'publicity stunts to appease lawmakers. Prior to this game, the Monrovians had been touring for six days through western Oklahoma, barnstorming thru six games. The Wichita Beacon news story leading up to the game cited some bizarre ground rules; "Strangle holds, razors, horsewhips, and other violent implements of argument will be barred at the baseball game at Island Park this afternoon when the baseball club of Wichita Klan Number 6 goes up against the Wichita Monrovians, Wichita’s crack colored team." A fair game was called by "non-bias Irish Cathollic umpires." “Played in front of a “good-sized crowd” on a scorching Sunday, with “searing winds” pushing the temperature to 102 degrees.” Brian Carroll wrote in “Beating the Klan” (The Baseball Research Journal, 2008) that the match began as a low-scoring pitching duel but turned into “a see-saw battle” that “ended with a blizzard of scoring.” Proceeds were donated to charity. MONROVIANS WIN 10-8This digital art series reimagines the Monrovians and that game through vintage-inspired baseball card design from the 1960s, decades that defined American baseball card art but largely excluded the legends of the Negro Leagues. The info and photos I’m sharing are mostly what exists of that game and the Monrovians team. It’s also not conclusive WHAT players may have comprised the roster that day. But.. I did a ton of research. Every player ‘barnstormed’ for money then and we can only speculate an educated guess of WHO might have played for the Monrovians on June 21st, 1925. Which is why I’ve included NEWT ALLEN & THOMAS ‘T-BABY’ YOUNG. AK ** I created this digital art using Adobe Photoshop, Stock, Fonts, Creative; this is NOT AI, I also researched and wrote the copy. **  
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 “DIY or Die Tryin’” A Post-Pandemic Survival Story Built with House Flips, Surgery Scars and Zero Sanity. June 15th, 2025 — Five years ago, Aaron Kleiber released his comedy special Grown @%$ Dad filmed in front of 1,200+ people, using seven 4K cameras, produced by Animal Studios, and distributed by Amazon Prime at the historic Carnegie Library of Homestead. It was a career high point.. released at the exact moment the world shut down in spring of 2020.Now, the Steel Valley’s own comedy powerhouse, Aaron Kleiber, returns with his most personal and gut-busting special yet: DIY or Die Tryin’, a stand-up storytelling spectacle born out of a global pandemic, a comedy blackout and one very ill-advised attempt at house flipping. A completely self-produced, directed AND edited, do-it-yourself stand-up special shot live at The Strand Theater in Zelienople, PA. Known for his energetic delivery and punchline-rich parenting tales, Kleiber delivers a one-man renovation project - of his body, his marriage and his sanity. From sketchy crawlspaces to crawling into the shower post-surgery, Kleiber swears, limps, and laughs through a year of broken plans, busted tendons and rehab routines. It’s HGTV meets HBO, filtered through the lens of a suburban dad with no career path, trying to stay funny while everything breaks down. “My Amazon special had a real trailer. This one has a torn meniscus and a borrowed camera,” says Kleiber. “But the stories are still silly and real. It's the most honest I’ve ever been on stage.”DIY or Die Tryin’ captures the raw, unfiltered spirit that’s made Aaron a favorite across the Rust Belt, and a favorite opening act amongst comedy superstars - and a recognizable voice on platforms like SiriusXM, Amazon Prime, and The Bubba Show on 100.7 Star Pittsburgh. “I tried to flip houses when stand-up went away,” says Kleiber, “and ended up flipping my own body. So I wrote jokes about it instead.” A veteran of the Pittsburgh comedy scene and a club touring comic with blue-collar roots and national credits, Kleiber has built a loyal fanbase by telling the truth - about marriage, fatherhood, and adulthood gone sideways. With DIY or Die Tryin’, he turns a year of injury and uncertainty into one of his most honest and hilarious hours yet. DIY or Die Tryin’ premieres Saturday, June 16 on YouTubeWatch the Special! Listen to the Audio Album! *available on audio streaming platforms, on SiriusXM/Spotify TBA* For interviews, content or booking: [email protected] April 15, 1947. Jackie Robinson appeared as the first black player in the major leagues as he stepped on Ebbett’s Field in Brooklyn on opening day. Didn't really include Jackie in our Negro League series, well, cause he was already retired from the league he helped integrate. AND in 2022, Topps DID an homage from the 1960 set! Glad I checked! So I wanted jump on the chance to create something in homage. Here's my digital card paying tribute to Jackie's 1948 Leaf rookie card to celebrate and honor Jackie Robinson Day! Decided to make the original mustard gold back, a blue variant AND of course, a FOIL card! https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/robinson-jackie https://jackierobinson.org/  Jackie Robinson Rookie Card Homage by Aaron Kleiber - 001 Gold  Jackie Robinson Rookie Card Homage by Aaron Kleiber - 001 Blue  Jackie Robinson Rookie Card Homage by Aaron Kleiber - 003 FOIL |
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