News Release

PHOTO AND MEMORABILIA EXHIBIT EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF BLACK BASEBALL IN NEW JERSEY TO BE SHOWCASED AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY The traveling exhibit "Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson: A History of Black Baseball in New Jersey" will be featured from January 24 through March 3, 2000 in the Ben Shahn Galleries at William Paterson University in Wayne, Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Wednesday, February 2 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The exhibit traces the great Negro League teams in photos, text, and memorabilia from the mid 1880's up to 1950. New Jersey and the city of Newark offer a particularly rich focus to the history of Black professional baseball. All-time Newark Eagle great John Henry "Pop" Lloyd is one of the featured athletes in the presentation. Lloyd, who is regarded as the finest shortstop to ever to play Negro baseball, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1977. He was a gifted hitter who batted over .400 many times during his 27-year career, which spanned from 1906-1932. The curator of the exhibit is Dr. Lawrence D. Hogan, a professor of History at Union County College. Hogan has served as a consultant to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for their permanent exhibit entitled " Pride and Passion: The History of Black Baseball in America". Also on view in the Ben Shahn Galleries from January 24 through March 3 are "Martha Posner: The Garment Series" and "Catherine St. John: Recent Paintings." For additional information, please call the Ben Shahn Galleries at (973) 720-2654. Release date: January 27, 2000 For Further Information, contact: Mary Beth Zeman, Director Office of Public Information 973-720-2966 Joseph Martinelli, Director of Sports Information 973-720-2705 Back to News Releases