DISCUSSION WITH FORMER NEGRO LEAGUES PLAYERS

Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m.
Pride and Passion Exhibit Discussion with Former Negro Leagues Players
John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N Ashley Drive
FREE

Dr. Robert J. Kerstein will discuss the timeline surrounding the existence of the Negro Leagues. Former players Raydell Maddix, Billie Reed, Clifford Brown, and Walter Gibbons will share their personal experiences with the leagues during the 1940s.

Robert J. Kerstein, Ph.D., is a professor of History and Politics of Tampa at the University of Tampa.

Event co-sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council, Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library, Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries, Development Committee, and Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

THE PROUD LEGACY OF THE BELMONT HEIGHTS LITTLE LEAGUE

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.
The Proud Legacy of the Belmont Heights Little League
College Hill Branch Library, 2607 East Dr. MLK, Jr. Boulevard
FREE

A celebration of our neighboring Little League that has brought forth great major league talent since 1968 and participated in two Little League World Series.

Funding provided by the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

AFRO-CUBAN BASEBALL: NUESTRA HISTORIA

Monday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m.
Afro-Cuban Baseball: Nuestra Historia
West Tampa Branch Library, 2312 West Union Street
FREE

Join Dr. Susan Greenbaum and Alberto Chico Arenas, son of Hipolito Arenas a former Afro-Cuban baseball great, for an evening of discussion and remembrances on the exciting and unforgettable era of Afro-Cuban baseball.

Susan Greenbaum, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology at USF, author of More Than Black: Afro-Cubans in Tampa which has a section on baseball and Negro Leagues players. History shows that many Cubans brought their love of the game with them around the turn of the 20th century when they moved to Tampa to work in the cigar factories, and many of the Cubans of African descent played in the Negro Leagues. Dr. Greenbaum will speak on the history of Afro-Cubans and baseball.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

Meet Former Negro League Players

Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m.
Meet Former Negro Leagues Players
Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Avenue, Valrico
FREE

Listen to the legendary Tampa Rocket baseball players, Raydell Maddix, Clifford Brown and Walter Gibbons share their unique sports experiences as part of the Negro Baseball League in Tampa during the 1940s.

Funding provided by the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call 813-273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

BASEBALL IN FLORIDA: NEGRO LEAGUES PLAYERS AND DISCRIMINATION

Saturday, Jan. 23, 3 p.m.
Baseball in Florida: Negro Leagues Players and Discrimination
John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N Ashley Drive
FREE

Authors Wes Singletary, Ph.D., and Susan Greenbaum, Ph.D., will serve as featured panelists to discuss the history of Negro Leagues baseball in Florida and the social issues faced by the players.

Wes Singletary is the Chief of Personnel Management, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He is a Tampa native, author of two books on baseball, and is currently working on a biography of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, a baseball hall-of-famer from the Negro League.

Susan Greenbaum is a Professor of Anthropology at USF, author of More Than Black: Afro-Cubans in Tampa which has a section on baseball and Negro League players. History shows that many Cubans brought their love of the game with them around the turn of the 20th century when they moved to Tampa to work in the cigar factories, and many of the Cubans of African descent played in the Negro Leagues. Dr. Greenbaum will speak on the history of Afro-Cubans and baseball.

Event co-sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council, Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library, Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries, Development Committee, and Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

PRESENTATION: KADIR NELSON

Sunday, Jan. 17, 3 p.m.
Presentation: Kadir Nelson
John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N Ashley Drive
FREE

Kadir Nelson will share his experiences with visiting original fields, meeting players, and recreating the events to assist with the illustrations included in the book. Nelson will also discuss the research involved with writing the manuscript for We are the Ship. Book signing will follow.

Nelson is an award-winning African American artist and illustrator. He is a two-time Caldecott Honor Award winner; he also won the Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for We Are the Ship, which tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947.

Companion events to the Pride and Passion traveling exhibit are co-sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council, Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library, Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries, Development Committee, Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc., Gamma Theta Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Tampa Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group, Tampa Bay Rays, WEDU, University of South Florida Libraries, JAS Consulting, and SKD Entertainment.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.

PRESENTATION: SHARON ROBINSON

Sunday, Jan. 17, 2 p.m.
Presentation: Sharon Robinson
John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N Ashley Drive
FREE

Sharon Robinson will share memories of life with her legendary father Jackie Robinson. Book signing will follow.

Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, is a nurse, university professor and director of educational programming for the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. She is also the author of several books including Stealing Home: An Intimate Family Portrait by the Daughter of Jackie Robinson and Testing the Ice: a true story about Jackie Robinson.

Companion events to the Pride and Passion traveling exhibit are co-sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council, Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library, Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries, Development Committee, Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc., Gamma Theta Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Tampa Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group, Tampa Bay Rays, WEDU, University of South Florida Libraries, JAS Consulting, and SKD Entertainment.

For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit hcplc.org.