It’s no secret that baseball is America’s favorite pastime, but it may come as a surprise that many baseball legends got their start in the Mahoning Valley. Bud Fowler, the first professional Black baseball player, was a star pitcher for the Niles, Ohio Grays in 1883. The Youngstown Puddlers was home to names such as Ed McKean and Jimmy McAleer, who went on to play for the Cleveland Spiders in the 1890’s. Even Valley native, President William McKinley was the first celebrity to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the 1897 season.
Join the Mahoning Valley Historical Society on Thursday, July 20, at noon at Tyler History Center for Bites and Bits of History, to learn more about “Baseball in the Mahoning Valley” presented by local author, PM Kovach. This presentation highlights the region’s long and storied connection to baseball, featuring Youngstown’s contribution to the Cleveland Championship season of 1895 and 1920.
Bring your lunch to the Tyler History Center’s Thomas Ballroom for this free educational event.
