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Author Event! S. Derby Gisclair, "Early Baseball in New Orleans"

Event Type: Adults
Age Group(s): Adults
Date: 6/25/2019
Start Time: 7:00 PM
End Time: 8:30 PM
Description:
 S. Derby Gisclair, author of a new book titled Early Baseball in New Orleans: A History of 19th Century Play, will discuss it at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 25, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public.

Early Baseball in New Orleans traces the development of early stick-and-ball games known to and played by the citizens of New Orleans from the city's founding in 1716 into the glorious game of baseball that spread like wildfire across the country in the second half of the 19th century. It chronicles the games that they played and the places where they played, as well as the equipment they used -- all of which would seem foreign to today's observer. It's a delightful and informative romp through the formative years of the National Pastime in New Orleans.

In the 1800s, New Orleans' local economy evolved from rural-agrarian into urban-industrial. With this transformation came newfound leisure time, which birthed the concept of organized sport. Though first considered a game for children, baseball became New Orleans' most popular pastime, and by 1859, numerous baseball clubs had been established in the city. This book traces the development of baseball in New Orleans from its earliest recorded games in 1859 through the end of the 19th century, with a particular focus on the New Orleans Pelicans.

Early Baseball in New Orleans is the fourth book written by sports historian and author S. Derby Gisclair. This is his second book from McFarland & Company who previously published The Olympic Club of New Orleans: Epicenter of Professional Boxing, 1883 - 1897, in September of 2018. He is a frequent speaker on the rich sports history of New Orleans and has authored more than 100 articles on local and regional sports personalities and events. His previous books include Baseball in New Orleans and Baseball at Tulane University, both from Arcadia Publishing. Gisclair lives in New Orleans.

For more information regarding this event, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

Library: East Bank Regional Library    Map
Location: Jefferson & Napoleon Rooms
Contact: Chris Smith
Contact Number: 504-889-8143
Presenter: Chris Smith