In an effort to preserve and share the history of African-American baseball and softball in Montgomery County, the county’s public park system is inviting residents to share their memories through a new online survey.
“Montgomery Parks recognizes the importance of Black baseball and softball in the history of our community,” said Elena Guarinello, a cultural resources planner for Montgomery Parks. “We are working with descendants to preserve these stories for future generations.”
In the early 20th century, many Black residents in Montgomery County lived in kinship communities founded after the Civil War by formerly enslaved people. These communities built their own fields and formed baseball and softball teams.
Since Major League Baseball excluded Black players until 1947, many of the era’s most talented players competed in these local teams. The games were often paired with cookouts or dances, making them major social events that strengthened the community.
The Black baseball and softball heritage project is part of Montgomery Parks’ Untold Stories initiative. It highlights diverse and often overlooked histories connected to parkland throughout the county.
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