“The Stories of the Philadelphia Negro Leagues and
Their Barrier-Breakers in American Baseball”
With Brian Michael, Temple University
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm via Zoom
This presentation will cover the history of how Black baseball players were able to break the color barrier and play in the major leagues. The history goes back to the early 1900s, when Black baseball players formed the Hilldale Club out of Darby, Pennsylvania. Later, the Philadelphia Stars, a Negro League baseball team, was founded in Philadelphia. The color line had developed in professional baseball, excluding African Americans from league play, until 1947, when Jackie Robinson opened the door to Black players by going to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Brian Michael is Adjunct Professor at Temple University, where he teaches Economy of Sports and Macroeconomics. He is the author of a book on the history of the Philadelphia Eagles, the owner of Shibe Vintage Sports and Nation, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
Please register on the Penn’s Village website, by emailing Info@pennsvillage.org, or by calling 215-925-7333. This program is free of charge for our members and volunteer partners. Non-members may attend up to three programs before being asked to join Penn’s Village or pay $10 per event.