Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — An often overlooked portion of baseball’s history is on display at Cambridge’s Multicultural Art Center.
“The Gospel of the Negro Leagues” is an exhibit from photographer Bill Chapman, featuring pictures of surviving Negro League players. The league shut down in 1961, more than a decade after Major League Baseball integrated and took a number of the league’s best players.
“It’s beautiful that Bill was able to get to know them, build relationships, gain their trust, and tell their story,” said Najee Brown, lead curator for the Multicultural Arts Center.
Brown said he is happy to see the players get some shine, even if it’s significantly after the league was active.
“Like a lot of things in Black history and American history, it was written over and forgotten about,” said Brown. “It’s important to not only remember the time, but also the individuals that were part of that time and how special they made it.”
Brown said Chapman spent two decades capturing pictures of the former players at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala.
“When you see these players, you’re getting to see them in their element. Even though they’re older in age, you kind of get a glimpse of who they used to be,” said Brown. There’s something very personal about the exhibit when you’re looking into the eyes of these older Black men, and there’s something very beautiful about it.”
“The Gospel of the Negro Leagues” will be on display through the end of July.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.