NMAAHC Collections Search

First base used in Inaugural Civil Rights Game

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

See more items in: 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

Baseball cap from the Memphis Red Sox

Manufactured by: Unidentified
Subject of: Memphis Red Sox, American, 1923 - 1962

Medium: cloth on wool with cardboard, canvas and thread
Dimensions: H x W x D (On form): 4 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 11 1/2 in. (11.4 × 19.1 × 29.2 cm)

Type: baseball caps; sports uniforms

Place used: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1945

Description: Memphis Red Sox baseball cap from the 1940s. The cap is a game-worn, wool, blue baseball-style cap. It has a stiff front brim and the crown is divided into six panels with white-stitched air holes in each panel. A white patch reading [M] has been sewn to the front and is outlined in red. The underside of the brim is green. There is a brown, leather headband running almost around the entire bottom interior of the hat. The front two panels of the interior of the hat are lined with a stiff white canvas. There is a torn, partial tag attached to the back edge of the leather band on the proper right side that reads [D[---?] / [---?] / [---?] / In[---?] / SHO[---?] / [---? ]].

Topic: African American; Baseball; Clothing and dress

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2015.206.2.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Clothing-Historical

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Hank Thompson, Suitcase Simpson, Larry Doby, Roy Campanella, George Crowe, Monte Irvin, New York Cubans.

Created by: Dr. Withers, Ernest C., American, 1922 - 2007
Subject of: Thompson, Hank, American, 1925 - 1969; Simpson, Harry, American, 1925 - 1979; Doby, Larry, American, 1923 - 2003; Campanella, Roy, American, 1921 - 1993; Crowe, George, American, 1921 - 2011; Irvin, Monte, born 1919; Unidentified Man or Men; New York Cubans, American, 1935 - 1950; Los Angeles Dodgers, American, founded 1883; San Francisco Giants, American, founded 1958

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W x D: 11 x 13 15/16 in. (27.9 x 35.4 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints

Place depicted: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1952

Description: This black-and-white photograph depicts the Campanella All Stars baseball team members, who stand along the first base line. Inscription on the front reads, "CAMPANELLA / ALL STARS / 1952 / WITHERS / MEMPHIS ."

Topic: African American; Baseball; Photography; Segregation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2009.16.13

Restrictions & Rights: © Ernest C. Withers Trust

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Ernie Banks, Larry Doby, Matty Brescia, Jackie Robinson, Martin's Stadium, Memphis, TN

Created by: Dr. Withers, Ernest C., American, 1922 - 2007
Subject of: Banks, Ernie, American, born 1931; Doby, Larry, American, 1923 - 2003; Robinson, Jackie, American, 1919 - 1972; Brescia, Matty, American, born 1910; Unidentified Child or Children; Los Angeles Dodgers, American, founded 1883

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (Image and Sheet): 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints

Place depicted: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1953

Description: In this black-and-white photograph, Ernie Banks, Matty Brescia, Larry Doby, and Jackie Robinson stand in front of a baseball dugout. To Robinson's left are two unidentified boys. Behind the dugout, a segregated crowd is visible.

Topic: African American; Baseball; Photography; Segregation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2009.16.14

Restrictions & Rights: © Ernest C. Withers Trust

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Gelatin silver prints of Charley Pride wearing a Memphis Red Sox uniform

Created by: Unidentified
Subject of: Pride, Charley, American, born 1934; Memphis Red Sox, American, 1923 - 1962
Owned by: Pride, Charley, American, born 1934

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W (2012.125.99.1.1): 6 1/16 x 4 1/16 in. (15.4 x 10.3 cm); H x W (2012.125.99.1.2): 6 1/16 x 4 1/16 in. (15.4 x 10.3 cm)

Type: black-and-white photographs; portraits

Place depicted: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date: early 1950s

Description: Two identical black and white prints of a photograph of country singer Charley Pride in a Memphis Red Sox baseball uniform. Pride's arms are behind his head. The front of his jersey says "Memphis." There is text in the bottom right corner that is partially cut-off. It reads [CHARLIE PRI/MEMPHIS RED / EARLY 1950].

Topic: African American; Athletes; Baseball; Instrumentalists (Musicians); Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Charley Pride

Object number: 2012.125.99.1.1-.2

Restrictions & Rights: Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Marcia "Toni" Stone and unidentified teammate, Martin's Stadium, Memphis, TN

Created by: Dr. Withers, Ernest C., American, 1922 - 2007
Subject of: Stone, Toni, American, 1921 - 1996; Unidentified Man or Men; Indianapolis Clowns, American, 1946 - 1989

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints; portraits

Place depicted: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1954

Description: Toni Stone crouches on one knee and talks to a teammate in this black-and-white photograph. Behind, the crowd looks on from the stands.

Topic: African American; Baseball; Photography; Segregation

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2009.16.16

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Baseball jersey worn by Neil Robinson for the Memphis Red Sox

Manufactured by: P. GoldSmith & Sons, American, 1875 - 1987
Worn by: Robinson, Neil, American, 1908 - 1983
Subject of: Memphis Red Sox, American, 1923 - 1962

Medium: wool with thread, plastic, mother of pearl and synthetic fiber
Dimensions: H x W x D (On form): 31 3/4 × 26 × 15 in. (80.6 × 66 × 38.1 cm); L x W (Flat): 33 1/4 × 33 11/16 in. (84.5 × 85.5 cm)

Type: jerseys; sports uniforms

Place made: Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
Place used: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1945

Description: Memphis Red Sox baseball jersey worn by Neil Robinson during the 1940s. The game-worn, baseball jersey is made from light gray and white wool woven fabric. It is short-sleeved with a round neckline. There is blue piping stitched over red ribbon that outlines the neckline running down the button band, around the sleeve seams, and across the top of the shoulders. Blue wool patch letters, outlined in red wool patches, are sewn across the front of the jersey and read [MEMPHIS]. The [MEM] is on the proper right side of the jersey and [PHIS] across the proper left side of the jersey with the [P] in the button band. There are seven button holes running down the proper left side of the button band. There are six buttons on the proper right side of the button band: five (5) mother-of-pearl buttons and one (1) green plastic button. The third button from the top is missing. On the back of the jersey, blue wool patch numbers outlined in red wool patches is the number [22] sewn across top center area. A red, white, and blue shield-shaped patch has been sewn onto the proper left sleeve of the jersey. The top field of the patch is blue with thirteen (13) white stars. The bottom of the patch is red with small white stripes. The bottom of the jersey has small slits that run up the proper left and proper right sides of the jersey. The tag on the inside of the neckband is black with red and white stitched letters that read, [MACGREGOR / GOLDSMITH / CINCINNATI, OHIO, U.S.A. / T.M. REG. U.S.A. & FOREIGN COUNTRIES] with [SIZE /44] stitched to the far right and the company logo stitched on the far left of the tag.