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I just returned from Washington D.C. today on Presidents’ Day, having spent this past weekend eating a lot and occasionally visiting the many free Smithsonian museums by the National Mall.
One I’d recommend is The National Museum of American History where there’s everything from the original ruby red slippers Judy Garland wore in the Wizard of Oz to the McDLT box that McDonald’s used to serve (I’m dating myself a bit here).
But, for baseball fans, in the American Stories section of the museum, there are two cool artifacts worth seeing.
The one on the left is signed by the mighty 1937 New York Yankees including the great Joe Di Maggio whose autograph can be clearly seen in the center.
The one of the right is signed by players of the Negro Leagues that existed from 1920 to 1945. The caption under both baseballs read: Even the all-American game of baseball did not escape the effects of racial prejudice; black players were segregated until 1947.
Of course, most of us die-hard fans of the game know that color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
What a different game it would have been if that had never happened. Thankfully, we’re able to appreciate the enormous talent from around the world that makes watching a Major League ballgame worth the price of admission.
The hobby has only benefited from it as well.
On a side note, if you haven’t been to the nation’s capital, it’s worth the gluttonous trip. There’s a lot to see – and eat (see collage below of everything that was consumed…)
CK