2008 Woodie Awards
Lecture to discuss 'The Game for All Races'
Kate Jacob
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Campus
Miami University Hamilton is hosting "The Game for All Races," a lecture to be given by Adrian Burgos, Jr. at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Wilks Conference Center.
Burgos, associate professor of history at the University of Illinois, will provide a brief history of Negro League baseball players and their transition to Major League Baseball. He will then discuss how Latinos were a major part of baseball's racial divide and take a look at how both blacks and Latinos were affected.
According to senior administrative secretary of multicultural services at the Hamilton campus, Katina Chandler, who organized the event, Burgos can illuminate a completely new aspect of competition and collaboration among different races.
Following the lecture, a roundtable discussion will be held with former Negro League baseball players Leo Cardenas, Charlie Davis, Chuck Harmon, Don Johnson, Carl Long and Bunny Warren.
The Negro League disbanded after the 1949 season as a result of Jackie Robinson's affect on the sport. Robinson broke the color barrier by signing with the Dodgers April 18, 1946 and sustaining a successful career.
According to Chandler, these players played a pivotal role in breaking down the race barrier in America's pastime and continue to do so by sharing the history they helped create. Cardenas, born in Matanzas, Cuba, was the first Negro League player to play for the Cincinnati Reds and Harmon was the first black American to play for the Reds. Cardenas signed with the Reds in 1960 and Harmon signed in 1954.
Ann Michelle Jarrett Bromberg, assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Miami Hamilton, helped put the idea in motion through her connection with Davis. Davis is from the Cincinnati area and has spoken about his experiences before. He provided the connection to the other panel members to get them on board.
According to Chandler, most of the players are from the Cincinnati and Kentucky area and their ages range from 69 to 83. Harmon will be celebrating his 84th birthday the day after the lecture.
Burgos, associate professor of history at the University of Illinois, will provide a brief history of Negro League baseball players and their transition to Major League Baseball. He will then discuss how Latinos were a major part of baseball's racial divide and take a look at how both blacks and Latinos were affected.
According to senior administrative secretary of multicultural services at the Hamilton campus, Katina Chandler, who organized the event, Burgos can illuminate a completely new aspect of competition and collaboration among different races.
Following the lecture, a roundtable discussion will be held with former Negro League baseball players Leo Cardenas, Charlie Davis, Chuck Harmon, Don Johnson, Carl Long and Bunny Warren.
The Negro League disbanded after the 1949 season as a result of Jackie Robinson's affect on the sport. Robinson broke the color barrier by signing with the Dodgers April 18, 1946 and sustaining a successful career.
According to Chandler, these players played a pivotal role in breaking down the race barrier in America's pastime and continue to do so by sharing the history they helped create. Cardenas, born in Matanzas, Cuba, was the first Negro League player to play for the Cincinnati Reds and Harmon was the first black American to play for the Reds. Cardenas signed with the Reds in 1960 and Harmon signed in 1954.
Ann Michelle Jarrett Bromberg, assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Miami Hamilton, helped put the idea in motion through her connection with Davis. Davis is from the Cincinnati area and has spoken about his experiences before. He provided the connection to the other panel members to get them on board.
According to Chandler, most of the players are from the Cincinnati and Kentucky area and their ages range from 69 to 83. Harmon will be celebrating his 84th birthday the day after the lecture.
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