CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

Located on the Museum’s second floor in the Yawkey Gallery, The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball spotlights the decades-long history of Black baseball prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues, through the complexities of baseball’s re-integration, to the challenges that remain today, revealing the deep connections between baseball and Black America.

The exhibit features men and women telling the story of Black baseball in their own voices. Sections cover stories of early Black baseball, the Negro Leagues era, the complexities of reintegration, Jackie Robinson, post-reintegration progress and retrogress, and calls for change in today’s game.

In 1966, Frank Robinson won the American League Triple Crown - leading the AL in batting average (.316), home runs (49) and RBI (122). Find his Triple Crown trophy, located near the entrance to Whole New Ballgame.

Find Mo’ne Davis’ 2014 Little League World Series jersey near the exit of the exhibit. Davis gained national attention when she threw a shutout, becoming the first girl in the history of the LLWS to earn a win. When Davis donated this jersey to the Museum in September 2014, another Black female baseball player, Mamie Johnson of the Negro Leagues, came to Cooperstown to celebrate.

Hank Aaron was wearing this uniform on April 8, 1974, when he hit
the 715th home run of his career. With this, he broke the record set by
Babe Ruth and became the all-time home run leader—a record he would
hold for the next 33 years.

A one-time Negro Leagues player, Hall of Famer Willie Mays used this glove to make “The Catch” in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds. The famous over-the-shoulder grab has become an iconic part of baseball history.

Find the cleats worn by Adam Jones on April 15, 2018, Jackie Robinson Day. They feature the date of Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, April 15, 1947, as well as the date of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Aug. 28, 1963.

In the Rotunda at the back of the Plaque Gallery, take some time to explore the plaques belonging to the Hall of Fame Class of 2006. The largest single class in Hall of Fame history, 17 of the 18 members are from the Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues. The Class of 2006 also features the Hall of Fame’s only female inductee, Effa Manley, who co-owned the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League.

The 2013 film 42 introduced Jackie Robinson’s story of courage and integrity to a new generation of baseball fans. This case features props used during the making of the film, starring Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson.