Preserving Baseball Latino Heritage For The New York Times
Baseball is represented by much more than a box score. The sport is rich in diversity and cultural heritage. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has started an initiative to collect Latino artifacts and memorabilia to preserve the past.
New York Times sent me to cover a collection event at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri where Smithsonian Latino Center director Eduardo Díaz urged locals to consider donating.
“We are story tellers at the Smithsonian,” Díaz said. “But for us to tell stories, we need things, we need baseball gloves, we need jerseys, we need baseball mitts”.
The museum also hosted an exhibition and displayed oral history interviews that will be available to the Smithsonian.
You can read the New York Times story here.
Director of Mexican American Historical Society of Midlands and Omaha resident Joe Frank looks out the door during a panel discussion about Latino baseball historical artifacts Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. Frank, who goes by street name “Chato” has actively collected Mexican American artifacts but wants them to be displayed locally. He says it is his Chicano mission of guarding, archiving, and preserving the history for prosperity. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Smithsonian Latino Center director Eduardo Díaz urges a group of about 40 people to consider donating Latino baseball historical artifacts to the museum Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. “We are story tellers at the Smithsonian,” Díaz said. “But for us to tell stories, we need things, we need baseball gloves, we need jerseys, we need baseball mitts”. Donators have the option to have their memorabilia on display in Kansas City or at the Smithsonian. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Smithsonian Latino Center director Eduardo Díaz urges a group of about 40 people to consider donating Latino baseball historical artifacts to the museum Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. “We are story tellers at the Smithsonian,” Díaz said. “But for us to tell stories, we need things, we need baseball gloves, we need jerseys, we need baseball mitts”. Donators have the option to have their memorabilia on display in Kansas City or at the Smithsonian. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Former Azteca’s baseball player David Ortega poses with his jersey and pants that he is donating to Smithsonian National Museum of American History Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. Ortega played as catcher, second baseman and in the outfield and wore the uniform for three seasons. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Former New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics baseball player Diego Seguí poses with a picture of himself, he guesses he was 22 or 23-years-old, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Former Azteca’s baseball player David Ortega talks about his career and history in Kansas City while donating his jersey and pants to Smithsonian National Museum of American History associate curator Steven Velasquez, left, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. Ortega played as catcher, second baseman and in the outfield and wore the uniform for three seasons. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Former softball player Eddie Aguirre looks at Latino baseball historical artifacts on display in an exhibit Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. The memorabilia is currently being loaned to the museum but owners can decide to donate them locally or to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Latino baseball historical artifacts on display in an exhibit Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. The memorabilia is currently being loaned to the museum but owners can decide to donate them locally or to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
Gilbert Castro, right, and his wife Pat look at Latino baseball historical artifacts on display in an exhibit Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at the Kansas City Museum in Missouri. The memorabilia is currently being loaned to the museum but owners can decide to donate them locally or to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Daniel Brenner for the New York Times
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