Used by

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

Manufactured by

Schutt Sports, American

Medium

rubber

Dimensions

H x W x D: 3 1/8 × 15 × 15 in., 6 lb. (7.9 × 38.1 × 38.1 cm, 2.7 kg)

Type

ball game equipment

Place used

Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date

2006; used 2007

Description

Square first base baseball base used in the 2007 inaugural Major League Baseball [MLB] Civil Rights baseball game. Top of base has printed design featuring an illustration of three fists grabbing a bat. Next to the design, black type reads, [CIVIL / RIGHTS / GAME]. Text that reads: [Original Hollywood Base/ Jack Corbett / Schutt Sports] is impressed over the design and black text. The MLB logo is both in ink and impressed on the top of the base. Four rectangular plaques appear on the sides of the base. Two of the sides feature plaques that have the MLB logo next to white type that reads, [CIVIL RIGHTS GAME]. One of the other sides has red type that reads, [St. Louis] in the style of the St. Louis Cardinals logo. The last side reads in red type, [Cleveland] in the style of the Cleveland Indians logo. Handwritten in black on bottom edge of the base is: [1ST B / SET B]. A sticker is near the black handwriting. There is also a stamp in red that reads: [Nov 28 2006]. There is dirt on all over the base.

Topic

African American

Baseball

Civil rights

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.256.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Tools and Equipment-Sports and Recreational

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph by

Unidentified

Subject of

Ashford, Emmett Littleton, American, 1914 - 1980

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

Medium

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W: 9 1/8 × 7 in. (23.2 × 17.8 cm)

Type

gelatin silver prints

Date

1966-1970

Caption

Emmett Ashford was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ashford umped from 1966-1970 and was known for his animated calls and dress. After retiring as an umpire in 1970, Ashford continued his relationship with MLB and was hired by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as a public relations advisor in 1971.

Description

A black and white photograph of Emmett Ashford in the act of umpiring. He is at the center of the image wearing dark clothing and protective gear, including a face mask. His right side faces the viewer. His right arm is extended out away from his body toward the right side of the image. His knees are bent and his right leg is positioned behind him with is weight on his left leg. Ashford is standing in the infield of a baseball field and a dugout can be seen in the background. A player is seated in the dugout and is holding a baseball bat. Behind the dugout and barrier are rows of spectators taking up the upper half of the image in the background. The back of the photograph is blank.

Topic

African American

Baseball

Photography

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frederick A. King and Family

Object number

2014.16.4

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph by

Unidentified

Subject of

Ashford, Emmett Littleton, American, 1914 - 1980

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

Medium

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W: 9 1/8 × 7 in. (23.2 × 17.8 cm)

Type

gelatin silver prints

Date

1966-1970

Caption

Emmett Ashford was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ashford umped from 1966-1970 and was known for his animated calls and dress. After retiring as an umpire in 1970, Ashford continued his relationship with MLB and was hired by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as a public relations advisor in 1971.

Description

A black and white photograph of Emmett Ashford in the act of umpiring. He is standing in the center of the image wearing dark clothing and protective gear. He is seen slightly crouched down, bent at the waist looking toward the dirt. His right arm is bent upwards, covering his face. He is holding an umpire's brush in his right hand. Attached to his left arm is a large, padded body protector. He is stepping forward on his left leg. A baseball player in a white jersey is leaning against the field barrier in the background. Behind the barrier are rows of spectators taking up the upper half of the image. The back of the photograph is blank.

Topic

African American

Baseball

Photography

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frederick A. King and Family

Object number

2014.16.5

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Rawlings, American, founded 1887

Issued by

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

Signed by

Joe Carter

Medium

cork (bark) , yarn and hide

Dimensions

H x W x D: 2 7/8 × 2 7/8 × 2 7/8 in. (7.3 × 7.3 × 7.3 cm)

Type

baseballs

Date

1992

Description

An official 1992 World Series baseball. The baseball is a white hide with red stitching. Red type on the baseball reads: [Rawlings] and [OFFICIAL BALL / 1992 WORLD SERIES / Francis T. Vincent, Jr / COMMISSIONER]. The 1992 World Series logo is also printed on the baseball. Underneath the logo, there is an autograph by Toronto Blue Jay Joe Carter, in blue ink that reads: [Joe Carter].

Topic

African American

Athletes

Baseball

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2016.50

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Tools and Equipment-Sports and Recreational

Exhibition

Sports: Leveling the Playing Field

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 052

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Manufactured by

Spalding, American, founded 1876

Subject of

Ashford, Emmett Littleton, American, 1914 - 1980

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

Medium

leather, metal, plastic, and elastic

Dimensions

10 1/4 × 9 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (26 × 24.1 × 26.7 cm)

Type

masks (costume)

Date

ca. 1965

Caption

Emmett Ashford was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ashford umped from 1966-1970 and was known for his animated calls and dress. After retiring as an umpire in 1970, Ashford continued his relationship with MLB and was hired by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as a public relations advisor in 1971.

Description

An umpire’s mask worn by Emmett Ashford. The mask is made of metal with a protective bar across the chin, jaw and forehead. The mask is padded with leather on the inside. The leather padding is held together with metal snaps. Attached by leather and buckles is an adjustable, elastic back strap that allows the mask to be pulled over the face. Written in green ink on prober right jawline padding is [Ashford]. On the back strap is the Spalding logo. The logo says [A.G.SPALDINGB.BROS / MADE IN U.S.A.] and [TRADE / SPALDING / MARK]. On the left side of the tag is vertical black text that says [REGISTERED]. On the right side of the tag is vertical black text that reads [U.S. PAT. OFF]. Stamped on the back strap in white is illegible text on the proper right side.

Topic

African American

Baseball

Clothing and dress

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frederick A. King and Family

Object number

2014.16.1

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Clothing-Historical

Exhibition

Sports: Leveling the Playing Field

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 052

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photograph by

Unidentified

Subject of

Ashford, Emmett Littleton, American, 1914 - 1980

Ashford, Virginia

Bowie Kuhn, American, 1926 - 2007

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

Los Angeles Dodgers, American, founded 1883

Medium

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

Dimensions

H x W: 10 × 8 1/16 in. (25.4 × 20.5 cm)

Type

gelatin silver prints

portraits

Date

1969-1980

Caption

Emmett Ashford was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ashford umped from 1966-1970 and was known for his animated calls and dress. After retiring as an umpire in 1970, Ashford continued his relationship with MLB and was hired by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as a public relations advisor in 1971.

Description

A black and white photograph of Virginia Ashford, Bowie Kuhn and Emmett Ashford. All three are dressed in formal clothing with the men wearing tuxedos and corsages and Mrs. Ashford wearing a black dress and hat. All three are wearing nametags on their left side. Mrs. Ashford is on the left side of the photograph and is looking towards her husband, who is standing on the right side of the photograph. Bowie Kuhn is standing in the middle of the photograph. All three stand in front of a wall-papered interior and are seen from the waist up. The image is bordered in white. In the bottom right corner of the photograph printed in black text is [L.A. Dodgers]. The photograph is inscribed on the back in the upper right corner with [12389 W15].

Topic

African American

Baseball

Photography

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frederick A. King and Family

Object number

2014.16.3

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Photography

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Worn by

Mays, Willie Howard Jr., American, born 1931

Signed by

Mays, Willie Howard Jr., American, born 1931

Subject of

Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869

San Francisco Giants, American, founded 1958

Medium

wool blend, plastic, ink, and thread

Dimensions

H x W x D (On Form): 35 1/2 × 26 × 12 in. (90.2 × 66 × 30.5 cm)

H x W (Flat): 35 × 29 1/2 in. (88.9 × 74.9 cm)

Type

jerseys

sports uniforms

Place used

San Francisco, California, United States, North and Central America

Date

1959

Description

A short-sleeved beige baseball jersey. There are seven (7) clear plastic buttons going down the center front of the jersey on the proper right side and the buttonholes are on the proper left side. The jersey reads [GIANTS] across the front with the "GIA" on the proper right side and the "NTS" on the proper left side. The "G" and the "S" have a series of curves and pints around them. The letters are black patches with orange outlines.

The neckline has a thin black stripe going around it with an orange line on either side. There is a thin black band going around the bottom of each sleeve with a thin orange band on either side of the black band. There is a slit on either side of the jersey starting at the bottom and going up a couple of inches. There are several small holes near the armpits.

The proper right side of the jersey is signed in blue ink. It reads [Willie Mays]. It is signed diagonally and is placed several inches down below the "G". On the bottom proper left side of the jersey there are two rectangular felt pieces sewn on with white thread. The top piece has [W. Mays] sewn onto it in black thread. The bottom piece has [1959] sewn onto it in black thread.

The back of the jersey has a large [24] sewn onto it. The numbers are black patches with an orange background. It is located in the center of the top half of the jersey.

There is an interior manufacturer's label near the neckline. The tag is white and has black and red lines. There is a red [Wilson] logo at the top. Below there are cleaning instructions in three steps typed in black. To the proper left of the instructions there is a size [42] typed in black. At the bottom is reads [WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO. /MADE IN U.S.A.] in black.

Topic

African American

Athletes

Baseball

Clothing and dress

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2016.159.5

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

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National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Jock Michael Smith Collection

Classification

Clothing-Historical

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture