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Celebrate a storied part of Pennsylvania’s rich sports history.Join the Josh Gibson Foundation for its annual Negro League Baseball Symposium, “A Keystone Story: Pennsylvania’s Negro League Legacy,” hosted in partnership with the Franco Harris Sports Museum at the History Center.
The program will feature an all-star panel of baseball historians, including author Courtney Michelle Smith, Ph.D.; Rob Ruck, historian at the University of Pittsburgh; and Ted Knorr, founder of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Negro League Research Conference.
Ruck, a noted author who wrote “Sandlot Seasons: Sport in Black Pittsburgh,” will examine Pittsburgh’s outsized contributions to the Negro Leagues, including the legendary Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
Knorr, a longtime Harrisburg-based baseball researcher who has spent more than 40 years studying and preserving the history of Negro League baseball in Central Pennsylvania, will explore the history of the Harrisburg Giants. The Giants’ star-studded roster included legends like Rap Dixon, Fats Jenkins, and Spottswood Poles, whose nicknames were only surpassed by their on-field play.
Dr. Smith, a Philadelphia-based historian, professor, and author of “Jackie Robinson: A Life in American History” will share the lively history of the Philadelphia area’s Negro League teams, including the compelling story of Ed Bolden, who ran the Hilldale Club and the Philadelphia Stars during the course of his 40-year career.
Admission
This program is free with advance registration. Tickets include access to the Franco Harris Sports Museum, which features a long-term exhibition on the history of Negro League baseball in Western Pa.
REGISTER: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/event/a-keystone-story-pennsylvanias-negro-league-legacy/
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available upon request. Please contact [email protected] in advance to request accommodations.
This program is presented in partnership with America250PA, established by the Pennsylvania state legislature and Governor to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future.
Josh Gibson Foundation
The Josh Gibson Foundation believes in the endless possibilities for potential in today’s youth. By providing academic and athletic programs that foster leadership and scholarship, the skills necessary for tomorrow’s successes are created today. Its goal is to carry on the legacy of greatness and accomplishment embodied by Josh Gibson, by developing programs that help children of every level of ability reach their potential, and to create opportunities that set The Josh Gibson Foundation apart from other organizations and provides value for our communities. Learn more at joshgibson.org.
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Event venue
Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Tickets
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