Presentation

         A.  Opening

1)     Display photographs of the 1924 Washington Senators and the 1924 Kansas City Monarchs, both of which were World Champions.  Ask students to compare and contrast any visual differences between the two teams.

2)     Show a photograph of a recent World Championship team.  Elicit from students the similarities and differences between this photo and the earlier team photos. 

          B.  Lesson*
1)     Introduce the concept of racial segregation, following the Civil War and its impact on American society in the early 20^th century.  A good story to bridge the period of baseball history between the Civil War and the early 1900s is that of Moses Fleetwood Walker who, along with his brother, Welday, became the first blacks to play on a major league baseball team in 1884.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Identify students by eye or hair color to simulate the experience of discrimination. Use pictorial or video examples, such as a photograph of a “colored” waiting room or a “blacks only” drinking fountain.

2)     Discuss the origin, culture and lifestyle of the Negro leagues as a result of segregation and the exclusion of black ballplayers from Major League Baseball.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Display a photograph of the Pittsburgh Crawfords standing beside their team bus.  Show brief video documentary, “Pride and Passion,” about life in the Negro leagues.

3)     Illustrate the geographic proximities of Negro league teams, showing that most were in the North and East.  Explain the transportation implications of these locales.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Provide a blank map of the United States and instruct students to research various states and cities where Negro league teams were based.  Determine appropriate mapping activities based upon grade level. Print map from Hall of Fame Web site.

4)     Acquaint students with significant characters in Negro league history, such as: Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Effa Manley, Rube Foster, Cool Papa Bell, Buck Leonard, Branch Rickey, and Jackie Robinson.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE: When possible, ask students to display pre-printed photographs of these individuals and provide one fact about each.

5)     Using the book “Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait,” by Rachel Robinson, examine the role of Jackie Robinson in the integration of Baseball, discussing why he was selected by Branch Rickey to break the color barrier, as well as character attributes he exhibited to overcome the inherent challenges.  Discuss his prior accomplishments as a collegiate athlete and as a military officer.  Relate the story of his refusal in 1944 to go to the back of the bus while in the Army.  Compare and contrast this episode with the famous experience of Rosa Parks in 1955.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE: From the above mentioned book, use the following to illustrate Jackie Robinson’s life and character: 1) photograph of Robinson as a college athlete; 2) photograph of Robinson in Army uniform; 3) photograph of Robinson with Branch Rickey; 4) photograph of Robinson with Brooklyn teammates; 5) sample of hate mail received by Robinson.

6)     Talk about the subsequent demise of the Negro leagues in the 1950s and how the integration of Baseball was the precursor of the modern-day Civil Rights movement.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE:  List Negro leaguers who followed Robinson to the major leagues and won various awards.  Find photograph of Robinson with Martin Luther King Jr. and another photograph of Robinson marching in a peaceful demonstration to illustrate his role in the onset of the Civil Rights movement.

 *NOTE: Italicized activities are facilitated by the Hall of Fame during its videoconference and on-site education programs.

          C.  Conclusion

1)     Summarize the influence of key figures and important milestones in the history of the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball.

2)     Reference the accomplishments of past and present ethnic minority baseball players since the integration of the sport.  Emphasize the instrumental role Jackie Robinson played in creating opportunities for their eventual success.  INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Display photos of current major league stars who are of African-American, Latino or Asian descent.