Wahoos to Recognize the South's First Interracial Little League Game
August 9, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
PENSACOLA, Fla. - In 1955 two teams of 12-year-old boys played the South's first racially integrated Little League baseball game that broke the color barrier in youth sports. The courage of those children, now men, will be celebrated on August 18-19 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Players from both teams will be on hand and recognized in a pre-game ceremony before the Blue Wahoos play the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Saturday, August 18. During the game, Pensacola will wear special replica uniforms from the Pensacola Little League team depicted in the film Long Time Coming. Clips from the movie will also be shown throughout the game.
The following day - Sunday, August 19 - the film will be shown in its entirety for free on the Blue Wahoos Stadium video board at 4 p.m. The documentary features interviews from the players retracing the risks that were overcome in order to play such a culturally significant game in the South during that time. The film features original players from the game along with Civil Rights icons and Baseball Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken Jr.
Tickets for the game on Saturday are still available at bluewahoos.com. The stadium will open for Sunday's screening at 3 p.m. and all seating is open with no tickets required for entry.
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