FAIRFIELD, Conn., June 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The colorful history of baseball in Bridgeport, Fairfield and other Connecticut communities will come to life on June 20, 2010 when the Fairfield Museum and History Center unveils its exciting, interactive, family-friendly exhibit, It's a Hit! A Hometown View of Our National Pastime, with a Father's Day celebration, beginning at noon. "We're inviting family and friends to this celebration of one of our boldest exhibits so far, and we've planned a father-son/daughter T-Ball game sponsored by the Fairfield YMCA," said Executive Director, Michael A. Jehle.
It's a Hit!, which is being made possible through a grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council and the generous sponsorship of GE, The Bank of Fairfield, Bridgeport Bluefish, WSHU Radio and Fairfield University, will be open through January 2, 2011 and will be accompanied by a range of educational and community programs.
"Baseball is firmly embedded in American life and history, even in our everyday language, and discovering how passion for the game became so widespread after the Civil War is fascinating," said Adrienne Saint-Pierre, curator of the Fairfield Museum and History Center. "We want visitors to discover and understand the evolution of the game and see how this region contributed to baseball's rich history, built a sense of community and still does today with pro ball and area natives who have played in the major leagues."
It's a Hit! will feature photographs, memorabilia, equipment, uniforms and more from the collections of fans and players around Connecticut, as well as the Fairfield Museum and History Center, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Library of Congress and the Bridgeport Bluefish.
Saint-Pierre pointed out that a significant part of the exhibit called The Dugout, will focus on a number of individual players. One of those players, Rufus Baker, was an African-American who graduated from Fairfield, Conn's Roger Ludlowe High School in 1938 and then went on to play for the Bridgeport Colored Stars, where he was spotted by the New York Black Yankees and signed as their shortstop.
"Rufus' story as a member of a Negro National League team is one that we should remember," said Saint-Pierre. " It's a close-to-home example of the prejudice that African-American players faced, being on segregated teams with lower pay and subjected to occasional threats when they travelled around the country. Today, there is a street in Bridgeport near The Bridgeport Bluefish stadium named in honor of Baker, thanks to the efforts of Craig Kelly, a former president of the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of the NAACP.
The Museum also plans an ambitious, schedule of baseball-related programs over the next five months, beginning as soon as Thursday, June 24, according to Christine Jewell, director of education and programs. "On that evening, Don Harrison, Bridgeport -area journalist and author of Connecticut Baseball: The Best of the Nutmeg State, will share vignettes from his lifetime of writing about Conn.'s corner of the game," Jewell said. "Don will talk about Bobby Valentine, Walt Dropo, Spec Shea, Charles Nagy, Jimmy Piersall, Rico Brogna and Billy Gardner among others.
"Our series will also include other Connecticut authors like Mike Bielawa, July 22, who wrote Bridgeport Baseball; Dana Brand, August 26, who wrote Mets Fan and The Last Days of Shea; and Frank Deford, November 16, who wrote several baseball books including The Old Ball Game."
"Many of our programs will focus on the game itself and how it evolved," she said. "For instance, we'll be doing a community picnic and Town Ball game, complete with rounders, soaking, and one-out, all-out, on July 14. Our huge, annual fall festival on September 12, will also feature a vintage baseball game and there will be a large Wiffle ball game in October. And we are planning even more events."
For more information and complete program schedule for It's a Hit! A Hometown View of Our National Pastime, visit the museum's website at www.fairfieldhs.org.
About Fairfield Museum and History Center
The Fairfield Museum and History Center was established in 2007 by the Fairfield Historical Society. The 13,000 square-foot museum presents engaging exhibition galleries, a special collection library and reading room, a family education center, an 80-seat theater overlooking Fairfield's Town Green and a delightful museum shop. The Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Fairfield, Connecticut and surrounding regions for present and future generations. The Museum provides educational programs to schools in and around Fairfield County, and helps to enrich the cultural and social life of the area. The Museum has quickly become an integral part of Fairfield. For more information, call 203-259-1598 or access the web site at www.fairfieldhs.org.