“A League Apart,” an exhibit showcasing the importance of breaking barriers through the stories of the Philadelphia and South Jersey Negro Leagues and their ongoing legacy, is now open at Camden County College’s William G. Rohrer Center, located at 1889 Rt. 70 East in Cherry Hill Township. The self-guided exhibit is free and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through May 20, 2024.
Using memorabilia, photos and stories from the past, “A League Apart” focuses on the players who stepped up to the plate to change the biases and traditions of baseball. This is the exhibit’s second installation in the Philadelphia region and it now features a new chapter on Negro League baseball in South Jersey, unique autographed memorabilia donated by Camden County College professor Dr. Kelly Jackson and expanded programming.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor and celebrate Black History Month than with an exhibition highlighting contributions and accomplishments made by Black Americans in our region,” Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young said. “I encourage everyone to visit the exhibition while it is at Camden County College, as it is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history of the Negro Baseball Leagues here in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area.”
Throughout the exhibit, visitors are encouraged to interact and discover the barrier breakers throughout pivotal moments in baseball’s history. The Barrier Breakers include: Octavius Catto, Henry “Pop” Lloyd, Ed Bolden, Richard “Dick” Allen, and Mo’ne Davis. Each is presented with compelling storytelling, historical context and QR codes to access videos.
The exhibit is produced by Carolyn Quick (University of the Arts alumna) and Brian Michael (owner of Shibe Vintage Sports).
“A League Apart highlights a commonly untold story of baseball. You hear the names Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb but what about the stories of Philadelphia Stars’ Mahlon Duckett and ‘Slim’ Jones?” Quick said. “In this exhibit, we highlight why the Negro Leagues are important, their formation, and their ongoing legacy so that people today can have a complete history of America’s pastime.”
To further celebrate Black History Month, on February 28 a talk by Baseball Reference founder, Sean Forman will be held discussing the advancement of Negro League statistics. Additional events will include an MLB The Show video game tournament, a Civil War-era baseball lecture and an Opening Day party in April.
Visitors can pick up a free set of baseball cards depicting each of the Barrier Breakers. Guided tours are available for groups of 12 or more. The Rohrer Center is also home to the recently opened South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame museum exhibit.
More information is available at www.ALeagueApart.org.
