New Negro Leagues museum exhibit coming to Montgomery Biscuits stadium [PHOTOS]
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Baseball fans around the country will soon have another reason to visit the home of the Montgomery Biscuits.
The team, along with the City of Montgomery and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM), announced a new project on Thursday that will bring a new museum exhibit to the historic train station on the first base side of Riverwalk Stadium.
The exhibit will be dedicated to the Negro Leagues, focusing on the players, teams and other influential members through artwork, storytelling and digital features.
“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is one of the nation’s most preeminent Civil Rights and Social Justice institutions, that is seen through the lens of baseball. We are thrilled to team with the Biscuits to bring this story of triumph over adversity to beautiful Riverwalk Stadium to enlighten and inspire a new generation of fans. The birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement is a perfect location to highlight the important role Negro Leagues Baseball played in helping usher in the Civil Rights Movement.”
Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Officials and community members gathered Thursday afternoon for the official announcement in Montgomery. No timeline for the exhibit’s opening has been announced yet.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Throughout the exhibit, visitors of all ages will be able to immerse themselves in memorabilia and digital archives that will share the stories and history of both Negro Leagues baseball and the impact baseball played in the Civil Rights Movement.
The exhibit will include videos and interviews shared by players, coaches, leaders. It will put a spotlight on Alabama-born players who have influenced the sport over the years including Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Satchel Paige.
“Montgomery, Alabama is known as the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually specifically to visit civil rights historical sites. The Montgomery Civil Rights Tour includes powerful stops such as the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, Dexter Parsonage Museum, Rosa Parks Museum, and Freedom Rides Museum.”
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Nearby the stadium, visitors can also reflect at the Civil Rights Memorial Center (SPLC), the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice (both operated by the Equal Justice Initiative), and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.
“The new museum exhibit is a welcome addition to our city and Negro Leagues baseball is an important piece of Montgomery’s civil rights history. We look forward to welcoming fans and tourists to the ballpark as part of our historic Montgomery Civil Rights Tour.”
Steven Reed, Montgomery mayor
The official Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is located in Kansas City, Missouri. There is also a Negro Southern League Museum in downtown Birmingham next to Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons.
Montgomery baseball
While most people will look to Birmingham’s history with the Negro Leagues and Mobile’s connection to star baseball players, Montgomery has plenty of its own history on the diamond.
The Montgomery Gray Sox were a staple in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s and 1930s, including being a member of the Negro Southern League which is considered a major league. Some of their key players included:
- Norman “Turkey” Stearnes
- Henry Hannon
- Paul Hardy
- Earl Gurley
The Biscuits have more recently played a role in the Negro League celebrations in Birmingham, playing in the big 2024 weekend hosted at Rickwood Field by Major League Baseball.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the City of Montgomery on this historic addition to not only our ballpark but Minor League Baseball. We are proud to shine a light on Montgomery’s rich baseball history while helping amplify the expansion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and its mission to preserve and share stories that are essential to the American experience.”
Lou DiBella, CEO and Managing Member of the Biscuits
Riverwalk Stadium
The new exhibit isn’t open just yet but it is going to just add to the draw of Riverwalk Stadium, one of the most prominent minor league baseball stadiums across the country.
Since opening in 2004 when MiLB returned to the capital city, it received rave reviews from baseball fans around Montgomery and from those just stopping by for a visit.
In just the last two years, Riverwalk has been recognized by both USA Today and Newsweek as one of the best minor league ballparks in the U.S.
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