LAST CHANCE!
See Celebrating the Negro Baseball Leagues Before Sept. 27!
Step back into the golden age of Black baseball and experience the art, photography, and stories that bring the Negro Leagues to life.
Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr. has captured the heart and spirit of the players who changed the game forever. His powerful portraits and storytelling transport you to a time when grit, talent, and determination broke barriers and built legends.
Norfolk’s own Samuel Allen, former Kansas City Monarch, Raleigh Tiger, and Memphis Red Sox star, is one of the players featured. Allen led the league in runs scored in 1957 and has spent his life sharing the story of the Negro Leagues with youth groups and baseball fans across the country.
Featured players include:
Jim “Fireball” Cohen • Mamie “Peanut” Johnson • John “Buck” O’Neil • Ted “Double Duty” Radcliff • Arthur “Superman” Pennington and more — heroes who played for the love of the game.
📅 On view through Friday, September 27
📍 Aspire Art Gallery – 232 W. 25th Street, Norfolk, VA
🔗 aspire.socialsipper.com
⚾ Don’t miss it! This one-of-a-kind exhibition is a chance to connect with history, celebrate trailblazers, and honor the players whose talent paved the way for today’s game. Bring your friends, bring the kids, and leave inspired.
You Missed the Opening — But You Can Still Experience the Legacy
If you couldn’t make the opening weekend, here’s what you missed:
Opening day featured Samuel Allen, Norfolk’s own former Negro League star, sharing unforgettable first-hand stories about playing for the Kansas City Monarchs, Raleigh Tigers, and Memphis Red Sox. Guests also met Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr., who spoke about his striking portraits and decades-long mission to preserve Negro League history.
The celebration included special programming — a visit from Rip Tide, the Norfolk Tides mascot, a family-friendly baseball art session, and live music inspired by the era.
Even if you missed the opening festivities, the exhibition still gives you an intimate connection to this incredible history:
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Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr. – Hall of Fame journalist, storyteller, and photographer whose work has captured the cultural tapestry of the Black community for decades.
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Samuel Allen – Norfolk native and former professional player, who led the Negro Leagues in runs scored in 1957 and now dedicates his time to teaching young people about the leagues.
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Legendary Players Featured – Jim “Fireball” Cohen, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, John “Buck” O’Neil, Arthur “Superman” Pennington, Ted “Double Duty” Radcliff, and more.
This is your chance to stand in front of the images, read the stories, and be inspired by the trailblazers who shaped baseball history.
Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr
Samuel Allen