Fall is here, Batter up!

Ahhh . . . fall has arrived and all is well with the world. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but things sure seem a lot better when the air is crisp, the sky is blue, and town is buzzing with art and music and occasional teabag protester. Around the city, theaters have kicked off their new seasons, movie companies are beginning to release their best films, musicians of all sorts are coming to town, football season has begun (for those of you into that), and baseball . . . well this year baseball has not been so very good to us in the District. But we have something coming our way to remedy that.

On October 2 and 3, the Library of Congress will be hosting a two-day symposium, "Baseball Americana," featuring Hall of Fame player Ernie Banks, all-star pitcher, broadcaster, and manager Larry Dierker, baseball language expert Paul Dickson, and Negro Leagues pitcher Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. The event is sponsored by the American Folklife Center and coordinated with the publication of the Library’s new book, "Baseball Americana: Treasures from the Library of Congress." 

On Friday, Oct. 2, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. "Baseball Americana" will begin with an exhibition of the Library’s baseball treasures. Library of Congress curators will display and discuss items from the collections, including rare and historically significant baseball cards, photographs, and sheet music. Baseball expert and professional appraiser Frank Ceresi will give a presentation on baseball memorabilia and evaluate memorabilia brought in by audience members. This will be held in room LJ 119, first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street , S.E, Washington, D.C. 

At 7 p.m. they will have a screening of memorable baseball clips from the Library’s film and television collections. The screening will be held in the Mumford Room, sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, at 9 a.m., a series of presentations will examine baseball from a number of perspectives. Speakers will include former players, others who make their living through the game (including a stadium organist and a head groundskeeper), and experts on baseball cuisine, the language of baseball and baseball memorabilia. The last session of the symposium will be an extended interview with Ernie Banks, a two-time National League MVP and 11-time All Star, got his start in the Negro Leagues and was the first African American player hired by the Chicago Cubs. 

Admission to all of these events is free, but advance registration is required. To register, go to www.loc.gov/folklife/Symposia/Baseball/registration.php.  For more information, go to http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2009/09-168.html.