My Not-So-Thrilling Introduction to Baseball

June 18, 2012

Growing up, I could never understand my dad’s fascination with baseball. He’d tell me stories of how he took the train with his grandfather into Milwaukee or St. Louis to see a Milwaukee Braves game or a St. Louis Browns game (the good old days before these teams changed locations and logos), and I could not have felt more disconnected. I was too young to understand the social impact of the great players like Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Lou Gehrig, or the opportunities created by the participation in the Negro Leagues or the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. My only real connection to baseball was when I heard about Pete Rose being denied access into the baseball hall of fame, nothing to convert me into a fan in my opinion.

So, when I learned that Kansas City would be hosting the All-Star game this July, all I could think of was the added traffic and tourist dollars being brought to the area. It was not until the Midwest Genealogy Center began planning events related to baseball that I got excited about it. One of these events we’re planning, called the Genealogy All-Stars, is the development of baseball-related biographies written using some of the genealogical resources housed at the Genealogy Center. They’ll include some famous and some not-so-famous players to introduce you to. 

Now, as I join my dad in the excitement and in honor of the All-Star game in our hometown, please enjoy these unique blog biographies in the coming weeks leading up to the July 10th game. And if you’d like to do your own genealogy research of famous baseball players or even research your family, stop by MGC to celebrate and discover with us.    

Wendy S.
Midwest Genealogy Center