Library of Congress set to host Baseball Americana symposium
The baseball memorabilia housed by the Library of Congress will be on display and Hall of Famer Ernie Banks will be one of the speakers during a symposium next month in Washington, D.C.
“Baseball Americana” is set for Oct. 2-3 and is sponsored by the American Folklife Center and coincides with the publication of the Library’s new book, Baseball Americana: Treasures from the Library of Congress.
Also appearing at the event, which is free (with registration), are Larry Dierker and Negro Leagues pitcher Mamie “Peanut” Johnson among others.
Among the memorabilia on display will be rare baseball cards, photographs and sheet music and the event will include screenings of memorable baseball clips from the Library’s film and television collections.
Other speakers will include former players, other people with ties to the game — for example a stadium organist and a groundskeeper — as well as experts on baseball cuisine, the language of baseball and baseball memorabilia.
The event culminates with a book signing. Baseball Americana: Treasures from the Library of Congress includes more than 350 images of memorabilia dating back to the 18th century that includes prints, drawings, cartoons, posters, advertisements, photographs, maps, tobacco labels, film frames, sheet-music covers and other items.
For more on the event, click here.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
What an awesome exhibit. I wish this stuff would tour like the HOF had their “Baseball America” a few years back. It’s great to see the road shows.