The BASE to Visit Hall of Fame Saturday, Sept. 20

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of the Black baseball experience every day through exhibits and educational outreach.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, student-athletes from The BASE, a Boston-based organization that uses sports to empower urban youth, will encounter that story firsthand when they visit Cooperstown.

Coordinated in partnership with the Yawkey Foundation, the trip will provide the 40 student-athletes from The BASE with a chance to explore the Museum, including the Hall of Fame’s exhibit The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball, which is located in the Yawkey Gallery and was made possible by the Yawkey Foundation.

The Souls of the Game, which debuted in 2024, covers 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 while celebrating the newest superstars of the era. The exhibit is part of the Hall of Fame’s Black Baseball Initiative that includes additional outreach programs, educational materials and virtual programming.

“We are honored to welcome the athletes and staff from The BASE to Cooperstown and the Museum as part of the ongoing efforts of the Yawkey Foundation with both organizations,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “The Souls of the Game exhibit tells the story of the Black baseball experience from the game’s earliest days right up to the present, connecting our guests to baseball history as well as the stars of today. The story is told through the words of those who have lived the Black baseball experience and that includes many of the student athletes who will be joining us.”

The Hall of Fame welcomes thousands of student-athletes every year through partnerships with school groups and youth organizations, providing educational experiences for athletes and fans of the game.

Founded in 2013, The BASE is an urban academy that uses the power and passion of sports to engage young people and prepare them for life success. Originally a baseball program, The BASE serves close to 1,000 youth annually in a variety of sports and educational programs.

“We’re proud to help create this meaningful connection between two of the Yawkey Foundation’s longtime partners – the National Baseball Hall of Fame and The BASE,” said Alicia Verity, CEO of the Yawkey Foundation. “This experience is about more than just baseball – it’s about community, history, and opportunity. It gives these remarkable Boston student-athletes a chance to play on the legendary Doubleday Field, learn from the voices who’ve shaped the game, and see themselves in the rich, often untold stories of Black baseball. It’s a powerful reminder of how sport can bring people together and inspire future leaders.”

Following their Museum visit, The BASE team will stay in Cooperstown before playing an intersquad game at historic Doubleday Field on Sunday, Sept. 21, before returning to The BASE’s facility in Roxbury, Mass.

“Baseball has always been more than a game – it’s a vehicle for opportunity, education, and social change. This trip gives our young people the chance to learn about the history of Black players who paved the way, while also creating lifelong memories with their teammates and coaches,” said Steph Lewis, CEO of The BASE. “We’re grateful for the support of the Yawkey Foundation. They have fought tirelessly to uphold the history of the game and inspire the next generation of players.”

To learn more about The BASE and how it creates pathways to success for urban youth, please visit TheBASE.org.

For more information on the Museum’s Black Baseball Initiative, please visit baseballhall.org/BBI.