NYPL Examines the African-American Baseball Experience

The New York Public Library has a new exhibit on display starting today (and running through March 6th. Titled Pride and Passion: The African-American Baseball Experience, it will open tonight at the Countee Cullen Branch on 136th Street with a feature screening of documentary Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson, as well as a discussion with former Negro Leaguer Robert Scott.

The exhibit itself features photographs of teams and players, and original documents and artifacts from the collections of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and other institutions across the U.S., all in hopes of shining some light on "the challenges faced by African-American baseball players as they sought equal opportunities in their sport beginning in the post-Civil War era."

Jackie Robinson steals home in the 1955 World Series. With a daring baserunning style, he stole home 19 times in his career. A six-time All-Star, his career batting average was .311. (Courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)