Exchanging their caps for helmets and bats for bayonets, baseball players during the Civil War and World War I charged off their bases and onto an entirely different playing field, battling for the fate of their nation. Those remaining in the stadiums fought the wars from home, striving to protect the morale of civilian society.
Despite the respite the sport provided for its athletes and spectators in times of conflict, racial inequality in the late 19th and early 20th centuries excluded African Americans from mainstream leagues, spurring the creation of the National Colored Base Ball League and the Negro National League. In many ways, baseball was a mirror of the United States—reflecting both its issues and its hopes.
Explore the wartime legacy of America’s favorite pastime with historian Phil Dixon in conversation with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Schedule
- Reception 6 p.m.
- Program 7 p.m. — Auditorium and Online
Hosted in partnership with the University of Saint Mary.
Free with RSVP | Auditorium and Online