With the Library’s Baseball Americana exhibit taking the field, I wanted Inside Adams to get in the game, so to speak, even if it is with a post that is not business or science themed. When it comes to sports in New Orleans people usually think of the Saints and the Pelicans. But baseball does have a long history in New Orleans.
The city does have a Minor League team – the Baby Cakes (formerly the Zephyrs) which arrived in the city in the 1990’s. But before the Babycakes/Zephyrs, baseball in the city meant the New Orleans Pelicans, a team that seems to have very briefly counted Shoeless Joe Jackson as a player. The Library’s collection does include three cards featuring New Orleans players -Ted Breitensten (1904-1911), Eddie Reagan (1910), and Charlie Fritz (1907-1908).
Beyond professional or semi-professional teams, there are the local colleges – Tulane has had a baseball team since the 1890’s, and UNO, Loyola, and Xavier do as well. Additionally, there are the local high school teams. When I was younger and my older brother played baseball for city teams, I went to many games at the fields off South Carrollton between Forshey and Olive streets.
If you are in the area, please come to the Baseball Americana exhibit. There is also an online exhibit at //www.loc.gov/exhibitions/baseball-americana/about-this-exhibition/ so take a look.