Upcoming Activities
Pride and Passion: The African-American Baseball Experience
Traveling Exhibit – July 24-September 4
Visit Washington Park Library beginning July 24 and learn about the remarkable history of baseball’s Negro Leagues, and how African-American baseball players have fared in the major leagues since Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. This multi-panel exhibit examines baseball as a reflection of race relations in the United States, and features photographs, team rosters, scorecards and other baseball memorabilia from the 1800s to the present. Free and open to the public.
0A
Opening Day Kick-Off: Friday, July 24 – 1:00 p.m.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.
Light refreshments and souvenirs
Saturday, July 25 – 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.
Kids 6-12 years old can celebrate the Negro Leagues by making their own baseball pennant.
Tuesday, July 28 – 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Center Street Library, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Kids 6-12 can make baseball pennants and take turns playing Wii sports.
Watch for more library programs about the Negro Leagues in August.
The Pride and Passion: The African-American Baseball Experience, a traveling exhibition for libraries, was organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, NY, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office, Chicago.&nb sp; The traveling exhibition has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Great Ideas Brought to Life.
Programming at the Central Library for Pride & Passion: the African American Baseball Experience.
There will be 3 programs held at the Central Library in Meeting Room 1
Time 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Program one—August 8, 2009
A showing of the DVD entitled: Only the Ball Was White. The video pays tribute to many topflight players from the Negro Leagues. After the 30 minute movie, Rick Schabowski, President of the Society for American Baseball Research, Ken Keltner Chapter, will give a brief presentation on The Milwaukee Bears our local team in the National Negro League for the year 1923. He will also give a presentation on Borchert Field, the home of the minor league Brewers and also of the Milwaukee Bears. He will also talk about Henry Aarons’s baseball career as an Indianapolis Clown.
Program two---August 22, 2009
James Beckum Jr. will be present to talk about his playing career as an African-American in the minor leagues and in the Negro Leagues, and the role he has played in Little League Baseball in the Milwaukee Area. He started his Negro Leagues career playing from 1950-1952. He then entered the military service before returning to play for the East St Lou is Giants from 1954-56. In 1964 he organized the Beckum-Stapleton Little League. He will also talk about youth baseball in the Milwaukee area today.
Program 3---August 29, 2009
There will be a panel of 3 speakers. Locally we will have Fred Franklin. He has a large 1920’s poster of Negro League All-Star players that has been autographed by over 140 of these players. He will talk on his experiences meeting these players. He will be joined by 2 former Negro League players, Hank Presswood who played for the Kansas City Monarchs and Johnny Washington who played for the Chicago Nationals.
Hank Presswood was “drafted” by the Chicago White Sox in the Negro Leagues Player Dra ft, held prior to the Major League draft at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Bueno Vista, Florida on June 5, 2008. Each Major League club drafted a surviving former Negro Leagues player, who represented every player who did not have the opportunity to play baseball in the major leagues.
Johnny Washington is a Chicago Native. He played for the Chicago Americans and Houston Eagles before serving in the Korean War. He was wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. Because of his injuries, he came back from the war and played Semi-pro ball. During his Semi-pro career he led the league in hitting 7 times and in pitching, with the most wins 8 times. He has directed Little League teams for the past 25 years.
SABR NATIONAL CONVENTION
SABR 39 will be held in Washington DC from July 29th- August 2nd. Below is our yearly "State of the Chapter" statement which I submitted. I, as always, appreciate any feedback or comments.
Ken Keltner Chapter, Milwaukee
The Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter of
SABR continues to provide services to its
members, and is a “ go to” organization for
assisting needs of the Wisconsin community. The
last year has seen our Chapter assist a number of
organizations in providing help for their scheduled
events.
Bob Buege spoke at a meeting in Shorewood,
Wisconsin, delivering a presentation “Baseball in
Milwaukee”.
SABR has assisted the Milwaukee Public
Library system in providing pictures and
memorabilia for exhibits they had; one about the
Brewers Playoff appearance, and another about
Borchert Field.
We are actively working with the Library
about a planned exhibit about the Milwaukee Bears
that will open in late July of this year.
We maintain a custom of buying books or videos
from our Guest Presenters, and donate them to the
Milwaukee Public Library System.
The Milwaukee Braves Historical Association
recently held a Banquet honoring Bob Uecker.
SABR members Bob Buege and Rick Schabowski
provided audio-visual assistance by means of a
Powerpoint presentation going through pictures of
“Mr. Baseball’s” career with an entertaining show
narrated by Bob Buege.
SABR maintains a presence in the press box
at Brewers games with the help of Larry
Baldassaro and Gregg Hoffmann. Larry and Gregg
also provide articles for the Brewers publication
that is distributed at home games.
source of information, and is where our Chapter’s
web page is located.
Our meetings are held at Long Wong’s
Chinese-American sports bar located
Our meetings are usually held at Long Wong’s
Chinese -American Sportsbar located near Miller
Park. Meetings are held in February, October, and
a meeting sometime during the summer months.
We also have informal tailgate parties before
Brewers games.
Our Chapter has by-laws which provide for
annual elections of officers each November. The
current officers are: President: Rick Schabowski,
Vice-President: Matt Bednarski, Secretary: Tom
O’Connell, and Treasurer: Dennis Degenhardt.
What does the future hold? We’d like to
further strengthen our strong relationships with the
Public Library systems, Museums, Brewers, and
the Milwaukee Braves Historical Association.
Future research topics include, but not limited to
research centered on Borchert Field, early baseball
history in Milwaukee, and the Braves era.
SABR member Gregg Hoffmann maintains a
website “Midwest Diamond Report” that is a great
source of information, and is where our Chapter’s
web page is located.
Our meetings are held at Long Wong’s
Chinese-American sports bar located
Our meetings are usually held at Long Wong’s
Chinese-American Sportsbar located near Miller
Park. Meetings are held in February, October, and
a meeting sometime during the summer months.
We also have informal tailgate parties before
Brewers games.
Our Chapter has by-laws which provide for
annual elections of officers each November. The
current officers are: President: Rick Schabowski,
Vice-President: Matt Bednarski, Secretary: Tom
O’Connell, and Treasurer: Dennis Degenhardt.
What does the future hold? We’d like to
further strengthen our strong relationships with the
Public Library systems, Museums, Brewers, and
the Milwaukee Braves Historical Association.
Future research topics include, but not limited to
research centered on Borchert Field, early baseball
history in Milwaukee, and the B raves era.
HENRY AARON STATE TRAIL RUN/WALK
Saturday August 8th is the day of the Henry Aaron State Trail Run/Walk information can be found at
http://www.hankaaronstatetrail.org/hank-aaron-run-walk.htmlNEXT MEETING
A reminder........our next meeting is Saturday November 14 at Long Wong's. We'll be showing the 1951 Brewers Highlight film, and Highlights of the 1955 All-Star Game. Contact me if you're interested in making a Presentation.
Regards,
Rick
