Béisbol

“Béisbol” at the Heart of our Latino Communities

La Casita Cultural Center, in partnership with Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History developed Latino-related exhibits, collections, programming, education and cultural heritage research initiatives through this multi-year program that took place between 2014 and 2021. The project explored the impact of the national pastime on Latino communities across Central New York through the history of baseball.

Latinos and Baseball: In the Barrios and the Big Leagues

This community collecting initiative focused on the historic role that baseball has played as a social and cultural force within Latino communities across the nation, engaging partner organizations across the US as well as a number of Smithsonian outreach divisions.

The project was designed to build on a growing body of original research, oral histories, and collections by and with Smithsonian partners to document the impact Latino communities have had on American history and culture through the lens of baseball. Baseball has been and continues to be an important means of celebrating national and ethnic identities, building communities, and negotiating race and class relations in an increasingly globalized world.

Latinos and Baseball officially kicked off on October 15, 2015 with a panel discussion, objects out-of-storage showcase and book signings at the National Museum of American History. It was followed by a working session of the partner organizations to outline collecting and oral history projects, as well as gather support for public programs and community engagement across the nation. In this first year, organizers will lay the groundwork necessary to launch a nation-wide community collection initiative.

Partner institutions in the project include: California State University, Channel Islands, CA; John M. Pfau Library at California State University, San Bernardino, CA; Institute of Texan Cultures at the University of Texas, San Antonio; La plaza de Cultura y Artes, Los Angeles CA; Los Magnificos Film, LLC, New York, NY; Syracuse University, La Casita Cultural Center, Syracuse NY and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL.