Basketball may be the first love for Hoosiers, but baseball has been an important piece of life in central Indiana for more than a century.
Throughout that history, though, a group of hidden trailblazers has helped make the sport more accessible and open to all people, both in Indiana and throughout the U.S. From the stars of the Negro Leagues to women ballplayers to individuals with disabilities who played, unique figures have overcome adversity and challenges to play the game they love.
A new exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis shines a light on those unsung heroes of the diamond.
“The exhibit really explores the compelling, empowering stories of legendary players who have faced adversity and challenges and stereotypes to play the game they love,” said Erica Lacey, special exhibitions project manager for the Children’s Museum. “Indiana has some rich history when it comes to baseball, and this exhibit allows folks to dive into that and be inspired to be that next generation of people who accomplish great things.”
“Baseball Boundary Breakers” explores the history of Black athletes in the sport, women who defied the odds and still others who overcame physical challenges. Visitors will have the chance to view unique and wonderfully preserved baseball artifacts, as well as take part in special interactive exhibits to better understand the contributions of these “boundary breakers.”
Learn about the careers of luminaries such as Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, while also learning about important players such as Mo’ne Davis, Jim Abbott and Indianapolis’ own Oscar Charleston.
“We believe this exhibit is an opportunity for children and families to have fun with baseball while connecting bigger ideas and important values, sparking learning opportunities in both sport and life,” said Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO of the Children’s Museum.
Stepping into the gallery visitors are greeted by a wooden bat protected by a glass display case. The simple piece of equipment, the symbol of the game, held a treasure trove of history: signatures of 120 players from the Negro Leagues, the only option for Black baseball players for the first half of the 20th century.
Included is the signature of Monte Irvin, a Hall of Fame inductee who played for the Newark Eagles in the Negro League, then later the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs.
Around the corner, people can look at a uniform and pennant from the Fort Wayne Daisies and South Bend Blue Sox, two of Indiana’s teams competing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Another display explains how Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand, pitched and fielded in the major leagues. Visitors can try to strike out virtual batters in a component inspired by his style.
Interactive games allow guests to work on fielding ground balls, throwing different pitches and trying to catch different fly balls in the outfield.
“We’re known for our interactives where children and families can experience things in our exhibits,” Lacey said.
The idea for “Baseball Boundary Breakers” was born as museum leaders were looking for a way to tell unique stories about sports, as an extension of its Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience.
In addition to the experience’s outdoor campus allowing visitors to play basketball, tennis, track and a multitude of other sports, galleries are set up to feature rotating exhibitions on different subjects. A deeper look at some of baseball’s most popular players, and some of the unsung heroes of the sport, was a good fit.
“Through this experience, it allows families to come together and learn about some players they may be familiar with, but also some players they may not be familiar with,” Lacey said. “They can learn about some of the stories, some of which start right here in Indianapolis.
“This is definitely an exhibit where, whether you’re a baseball fan or you don’t know much about the game, there’s something here for everyone.”
To tell these stories, museum staff wove together hands-on activities with displays of memorabilia and information about baseball’s “boundary breakers.”
Visitors get a video pitching lesson — both overhand and underhand — from Davis, who famously was the first girl in Little League World Series history to pitch a winning game in 2014. She is currently a softball player for Hampton University.
A ground-ball interactive game is paired with a larger-than-life display of Toni Stone, who was the first woman to play full-time professional baseball in the Negro Leagues when she joined the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953.
People can learn about beep baseball, used by those who are blind or visually impaired to play the game.
In one display, prop costumes from films such as “42,” about Jackie Robinson, and “A League of Their Own” help tie history in with popular culture.
“We have a talented group of people who research things and find ways to present information to our audiences. I think one of the most amazing parts is to see everything we’ve been conceptualizing and working on come alive on opening day and be enjoyed by people of all ages,” Lacey said.
Organizers expect visitors to learn a little bit more about the game of baseball and its history, including about players who have been overlooked. At the same time, it’s a chance to take the lessons taught by people who persevered throughout baseball’s history and apply it to their own lives.
“One of the things our visitors to walk away with is the motivation to try new things, to try new skills. While you’re learning how to play a sport, also learn how to display good sportsmanship and how to be an outstanding teammate,” Lacey said.
