The Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, in association with the Metuchen-Edison Branch of the NAACP, proudly invites the public to view an exciting new exhibit at the Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum. Somebody to Cheer For: Black Professional Baseball and African Community Life in New Jersey is a comprehensive public history project that features the first exhibition in central New Jersey about Negro League baseball. Visitors can travel through time, as each room of the museum is dedicated to a particular time period, a specific New Jersey team, and highlighted players. The exhibit traces African Americans in New Jersey baseball from the early days of integrated teams, through the years of segregation, to the eventual breaking of the color barrier and end of the Negro Leagues. Exhibit rooms contain the following:

Room #1- Early Beginnings John Milton Dabney and the Trenton Cuban Giants and life in Trenton in the late 1880s Room #2 – The Color Line Goes Up George Stovey and the Newark Little Giants, life in Newark, the effects of growing segregation Room #3 – The Great Migration John Henry “Pop” Lloyd and the Bacharach Giants, life in Atlantic City in the early 1900’s – 1920’s Room #4 – World Series Champions Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, life in Newark in the 1930’s and 40’s, and athletes Leon Day, Ray Dandridge, Don Newcombe, and Monte Irvin Room #5 – 1946 Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, the integration of major league baseball by pioneers such as Robinson and Larry Doby

Integral to the exhibit are the Educational Activity Center, Educational Workshops for schools, and the public’s chance to contribute memories and artifacts in the Legacy Gallery. In the Educational Activity Center, visitors can put on replica uniforms or try some hands-on activities. School groups can visit the exhibit during the day, and participate in educational workshops. Ya Gotta Have Math, geared to grades 4-6 draws a parallel between the sport of baseball and important math concepts, while Baseball in Black and White, for grades 6-12 deals with the plight of black baseball players as they traveled, and segregation as a whole during the time periods of the exhibit. Educators interested in arranging tours of the exhibit and participation in workshops may obtain a complete brochure by calling the Museum at 732-745-4177/3888 (TTY).

In recognition of the fact that there are many stories of the era yet unrecorded, a section of the Museum has been designated as the Legacy Gallery. Scheduled to open in Fall 1999, the Legacy Gallery will contain the stories, oral histories and artifacts contributed by visitors to the exhibit. All contributors will be credited and objects kept in secured cases.

Curators for the exhibit are well-known experts, Dr. Lawrence Hogan, and Dr. Gary Hunter. Dr. Hogan, Professor of History at Union County College organized the travelling exhibit “Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson” and was executive producer of the video of the same title. Dr. Hunter, Associate Professor of History at Rowan College of New Jersey was the 1996 winner of the African American Studies Award from the New Jersey Association of Black Educators, and has researched and written extensively on African American community life.

Also working with the Commission is the Metuchen-Edison Chapter of the NAACP. During the 1860 to 1950 time period on which this exhibit focuses, the evils of slavery and the indignities of Jim Crow laws permeated our communities. Despite those adversities, Blacks were able to make notable contributions in many fields. “Somebody to Cheer For” highlights their contributions to professional baseball and how they paved the way for many black Major League baseball legends. The NAACP Metuchen-Edison Branch is proud to co-sponsor an exhibit that educates the public about a part of Black history – as well as American history – that has been overlooked and under-publicized,” said Reginald Johnson, President. Both organizations will continue work with each other throughout the course of the exhibit to organize special events, which may include a reenacted baseball game.

The Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum is a project of the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Since 1979, it has been owned by Middlesex County, and serves the community as the County Museum. In 1996, a major restoration of the Low House was completed, restoring original finishes to walls floor and woodwork, removing modern changes and recreating missing features. Outside the Museum, an Interpretive Path highlights the history of the area, while inside the museum are changing exhibits about state and local history. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday – Friday and Sunday, 1-4 PM. Groups wishing to arrange a tour of the Museum and nearby East Jersey Olde Towne, should call the Museum at 732-745-4177/3888 (TTY).

For more information about the current exhibit, “Somebody to Cheer For”, the Cornelius Low House or the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, please call Noreen Braman, Public Information Officer, at 732-745-4489/3888 (TTY). Information is also available through the Commission’s website at: http://www.cultureheritage.org.