Before the Lights go Out
The Story of The Negro Baseball Leagues featuring Cool Papa Bell and Satchel Paige
Travel back in history to when, segregated by Jim Crow laws, America's "National Pastime" wore two faces, the whites-only Major Leagues and the upstart Negro Baseball Leagues. Nonetheless, many white Americans were astonished by the dynamic skills of black ball players!
Bobby's journey through the heyday of the Negro Baseball Leagues brings to life many of its most talented players including St. Louis's own James "Cool Papa" Bell and the Kansas City Monarch's Satchel Paige. In this powerful and educational performance, he brings to life an important but sometimes forgotten era in baseball history, telling passionate, humorous, and often unbelievable stories of exploits both on and off the field. Bobby invites his audience to experience the harsh discrimination, adversity, and eventual Hall of Fame triumph for some of these players. Historical slides and period music enhance this emotional performance, illustrating the clash of race, sports and culture.
This program satisfies U.S. History, Music, & English Grade Level Expectations for grades 3 through 12. It will be adapted for adult audiences. Download a flyer
As the great Satchel Paige once said, "Cool Papa Bell" could turn off the lights, and be in the bed before the room got dark."
