Words and Images Courtesy of the Portsmouth Museums
NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL LEGEND SAM ALLEN TO SPEAK
AT THE ART ANNEX OF THE PORTSMOUTH ART & CULTURAL CENTER
420 HIGH STREET, PORTSMOUTH VA 23704 JANUARY 15, 2022, 1:30 P.M.
[PORTSMOUTH, Virginia, December 29, 2021] – Sam Allen, who played left field for Negro League teams Kansas City Monarchs, Raleigh Tigers, and Memphis Red Sox in the late 1950s before serving with the U.S. Army’s 82ndAirborne Division, will be the kickoff speaker for the Black History Now! 2022 series at the Portsmouth Art and Cultural Center Art Annex at 420 High Street in Portsmouth (adjacent to the 1846 Courthouse at Court & High Streets) on Saturday, January 15th at 1:30 P.M. Admission is free. Allen, considered a national treasure and a ceaseless spokesperson for the National Pastime and the history of the Negro Leagues, will reminisce about his experiences both on and off the field. “Baseball was king at that time,” the Norfolk resident recalled, in discussing the popularity of the game in mid-20th century Hampton Roads, among both whites and Blacks. “The Negro Leagues were loaded” with talent, he says, emphasizing the high quality of baseball he witnessed in his years playing segregated ball, where so many great players were overlooked. We are requesting that all attendees ages 2 and up wear a mask while inside the Art Annex building. This event is part of the 2022 Black History Now! Series presented by the City of Portsmouth’s Department of Museums and Tourism and Library Department. In its seventh season, the series will commemorate African American heritage with events, programs, lectures, family activities, and more. Topics relate to current museum exhibitions and highlight local people and history.
For all the details on dates, times, and places visit portsvaevents.com. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Call the Department of Museums and Tourism at 757-393-5258 for more information.