Retired baseball players from an elite group of athletes known as the "12 Black Aces" will visit UHS Binghamton General Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 29 to meet patients, visitors and staff.

Al Downing, Duke Sims and Stack Pierce will sign autographs from 10:30 – 11:30 at the Mitchell Avenue lobby and then will meet with patients in Physical Therapy department.

The Black Aces group is headed by legendary Major League pitcher Jim "Mudcat" Grant. It serves as a tribute to the players' achievements and as a means of education and inspiration. The label refers to the dozen African American pitchers who have posted 20-win seasons in Major League competition.

The original 12 black men overcame what has often been called the "last barrier" in baseball - a perceived reluctance to put black men on the mound - that endured long after the game's color line was crossed.

The players will be in town for the annual Jim "Mudcat" Grant All-Star Golf Tournament, sponsored by Security Mutual and the United Way. The tournament will benefit the youth programs and services of the Broome County Urban League.

UHS is a locally owned, not-for-profit, 916-bed hospital and health care system serving the Greater Binghamton region. Its mission is to improve the health of its patients and communities through a dedication to excellence in care and service. Founded in 1981, it provides a full range of medical, surgical, rehabilitative and long-term care services from more than 40 locations throughout New York's Southern Tier. It consists of UHS Wilson Medical Center, UHS Binghamton General Hospital, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, UHS  Delaware Valley Hospital, UHS Senior Living at Ideal and UHS Home Care, and is affiliated with the UHS Medical Group and the UHS Foundation.