The Center of it All: Baseball on the Erie Canal

Presentation of the history of baseball and the Erie Canal with Derrick Pratt!

WHEN: Saturday April 20th 2-3pm

WHERE: CAP ArtSpace in the Tompkins Center for History & Culture on the Ithaca Commons - 110 North Tioga St. Ithaca NY 14850.

PRESENTERS: Derrick Pratt, Director of Education & Public Programming at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse

About

The Erie Canal totally transformed life along its banks. Cities were built. Religions were founded. National movements started. And goods, people and ideas were transported. One often overlooked aspect of this change is the explosion of what was quickly becoming the national pastime: baseball. From Albany to Buffalo, the new sport swept through the Canal corridor. Many of its earliest stars lived and played beside the towpath.

During this lecture speaker Derrick Pratt discusses the development of baseball from the end of the Civil War to 1903, and the teams and players who had connections to the Erie Canal corridor and its towns and cities. Pratt did extensive research for this presentation at the archives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. His talk includes research findings, images, and time for questions and answers.

This event is brought to you through our current exhibit 'A Sporting Chance: On and Off the Field'. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/sporting-chance. On display February-December 2024

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Derrick Pratt is the Director of Education & Public Programming at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, NY. A native of Chittenango, NY, Derrick received a B.A in Social Studies Education from SUNY Cortland and a M.A. in Museum Studies from Syracuse University. Prior to his job at the Erie Canal Museum, Derrick served as Director of Programs at Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum for 3 years.

COVID-19 POLICY - The History Center will follow the most up to date guidance from the Tompkins County Health Department. Our organization is a mask friendly space and encourage visitors to practice what is most comfortable to them regarding mask wearing. Learn more at thehistorycenter.net/health. The event space can hold up to 45 people. There is no current plan to offer a virtual option for this program.

The History Center in Tompkins County's current exhibit and programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.