CINCINNATI — The Savannah Bananas are back in Cincinnati, but this year they face a new opponent: the Indianapolis Clowns.

The Clowns were implemented into Banana Ball this season to honor the original Negro League team that played from the 1930s to 1989. The team also had stints in Miami (Florida) and here in Cincinnati as the Ethiopian and Cincinnati Clowns.

So, when 93-year-old West Chester resident Myra Merchant heard the Clowns were coming to town, she said she was shocked.

“It brings back a lot of beautiful memories,” she said.

Merchant’s husband, Henry Lewis “Speed” Merchant, was an outfielder for the original Clowns team. He coined the nickname “Speed” because of his pace on the bases.

WATCH: Meet the family of Indianapolis Clowns legend Henry Lewis “Speed” Merchant

The Savannah Bananas are back in Cincinnati, but their opponents hit home for one family

In 1950, he won the title for most stolen bases in a single season with 45 bases stolen in 80 games.

“(He) was a hell of a ball player,” Merchant said of her late husband. “He could run, he was a beautiful runner.”

“Speed” died of prostate cancer in 1982, but even four decades later, at the Merchant family’s table, sit dozens of photos and memorabilia — a physical record of a legacy Merchant refuses to let fade.

Noelle Blumel

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“I can’t help it, it’s part of history,” she said. “I thank God he had a chance to prove himself in the Negro League.”

Their three children, Charisse, Herma Jean and Rashawn Merchant, still live in the Cincinnati area as well and remember the tricks he used to do as a player.

“They came up with tricks (like) hiding the ball and digging into the dirt and coming up (with it),” Charisse said.

Charisse added that even after his time as a player, their father would still perform the tricks from time to time.

“He just knew how to do so many things,” Rashawn said. “He could take the baseball and roll it down his shoulder… could catch the ball behind his back, over his head.”

Myra Merchant

Myra said the tricks, in addition to the baseball, made the games a joyful spectacle.

“There was laughter and fun in the game, the way they played it, and it was enjoyable,” Merchant said.

That enjoyment, however, came with adversity. The Clowns often had to perform in the face of open discrimination.

“It was rough,” Charisse said. “(Going to) certain places to eat, they would send whoever was the lightest-skinned guy on the team. He would go to the back and get the sandwiches or whatever to eat.”

The hostility didn’t stop there.

“Players being thrown ice, (patrons) would throw the bottles at them,” Charisse said. “But (the players) kept going and they would win the game and hurry up and get on the bus.”

Charisse added that sometimes the players could not change out of their jerseys after games because they had to leave the hostile environment immediately to avoid things escalating.

Myra described the era with unflinching clarity.

“Prejudice, back in the, the ’30s and ’40s, and even a lot of times in the ’50s, that prejudice was still there,” she said. “And you had to endure it, take it, smile and keep going.”

When asked what made the players want to keep going, Myra’s answer was immediate.

“I’ll put it this way, our Lord came here, and he knew what he had to endure,” she said. “He kept going, and that’s what the Black man has done. He kept going. Because had he stopped, where would he have been today?”

Charisse and Rashawn echoed that sentiment.

“He loved the game. It was just in his blood, and that’s what he wanted to do,” they said.

Now with a new generation of the Clowns making headlines, the Merchant family said their hope is that the fans and players know about the pioneers who wore the name first.

Rashawn Merchant

“I thank God because it lives on. He’s part of history. And it lives on through the children and every Black player. Every Black man that came through hell,” Myra said.

Charisse and Rashawn said they want that history to be part of the celebration.

“Just remember that it started through a lot of hardship, that it wasn’t all fun and games,” Rashawn said. “There’s a history there and all of it’s not the best, but they made the best of what they had.”

Myra said the struggles they went through, though grueling, are part of what makes America a great country.

“They were part of America. That’s what makes America great, and it is a great country,” she said. “This is a melting pot of beautiful colors. She have her problems — What country has none? But we can solve them together, united as one.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

2026 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis

Finals Heat Sheet

Six women opted not to swim the 50 fly tonight, with Torri Huske, Erika Pelaez, and Liberty Clark all choosing to swim the 100 free A-final instead. They are the 7th, 8th, and 5th seed, respectively. Kristina Paegle and Anna Peplowski have likewise chosen the 100 free over the 50 fly, where they’re the 9th and 12th seeds for tonight.

On the men’s side, the only scratches come from the 100 breast, where American record holder Michael Andrew has decided to swim the 50 fly. He’ll be in lane 5 for that event tonight. Charlie Egeland has also scratched out of the 100 breast, which means his meet has come to an end.

Top – 16 SCRATCH REPORT

Women’s 800 Freestyle

Men’s 800 Freestyle

Women’s 50 Butterfly

Men’s 50 Butterfly

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

Women’s 100 Freestyle

Men’s 100 Freestyle

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has installed a new public safety camera in downtown Indy.

The camera is positioned at the intersection of W Washington Street and N Illinois Street. It’s the third camera installed along Washington Street in the last three months.

IMPD Downtown District Commander Shane Foley told FOX 59 that they’ve had a lot of success with these cameras so far in identifying suspects involved in crimes.

“We’ve been able to make arrests because the cameras are there,” Foley said. “If the cameras weren’t there, there are certain situations we would not be able to make arrests.”

The area of Washington and Illinois Streets is one of the most travelled parts of downtown Indianapolis. Foley said adding a camera in this spot emphazies it’s importance.

“It’s important to have this tool to monitor activity,” said Foley, adding that the camera offers them five different angles of surveillance.

The streams from the cameras are monitored by IMPD’s real-time crime center and officers on the streets. Officers can be alerted to incidents from the video before 911 is called.

The Conrad Hotel funded the installation of the camera. They’re hoping the investment will help officers patrol the area and make the city safer.