Baseball Exhibit at the Ocean County Library, Toms River

Pride and Passion: The African-American
Baseball Experience, a national traveling exhibition which chronicles the remarkable history of baseball’s Negro Leagues and the challenges and successes of African-American baseball players, opens at the Ocean County
Library’s Toms River Branch on Saturday August 18 at 2 PM.

The documentary film Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson: Black Baseball in America in the Era of the Color Line will be shown at 2:30.

The film examines in depth the rich relationships that comprised “Blackball” during America’s era of segregation with commentary by former players Monte Irvin among others.

The Opening Reception will be held on Tuesday August 21 at 7:00 PM.  Dr. Lawrence Hogan will speak about the hidden history of Negro League baseball that existed during America’s era of segregation. Dr. Hogan was a key consultant in the creation of the Pride and Passion exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. . He has taught, researched, written about, and spoken in the field of African American history for more than 40 years. His 2006 book Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of African-American Baseball marks a truly significant advance in Negro Leagues scholarship.  

Special guests, former Negro League Ball Players Pedro Sierra and Robert Scott will talk about their experiences playing in a segregated league.

A special collection of Negro Leagues memorabilia is also on display.

All programs are free and open to the public. 

For more information about the exhibit and
related programs visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org
or call 732-349-6200.