On April 15th, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American player in Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn in a Dodgers uniform. During the same season, Brooks "Bull" Lawrence, who would go on to be the first black pitcher for the Cardinals and Reds, was playing baseball for Miami University.
Please join us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the breaking of the color barrier and share the story of two trailblazers in America's pastime.
Terence Moore '78, is an American sports journalist based in Atlanta. He has appeared on national and local television, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, and various ESPN shows, most prominently "Outside The Line." He was a frequent guest on ESPN's Jim Rome Is Burning. Terence previously spent 25 years as a sports columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after beginning his sports writing career at the Miami Student. Terence's new book, The Real Hank Aaron: An Intimate Look at the Life and Legacy of the Home Run King will be released in May.
Dr. Deena Chisolm '90 is the Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Health Equity Research, Director of the Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research, and Vice-President for Health Services Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Deena is the granddaughter of Brooks Lawrence who encouraged her to attend Miami to finish what he started in Oxford before he moved on to play professional baseball.
This web event is free but registration is required. Please contact J.J. Slager, slagerjj@MiamiOH.edu, with questions about the event.