by Kendra Clark
staff writer
The history club will play host to five renowned historians of baseball on Saturday, Nov. 11.
These five historians will be speaking at the club’s annual symposium, titled Baseball and the American Tradition.
The symposium, which is free to all of the Cabrini community, will take place in the Widener Center Lecture Hall at 9:00 a.m.
The discussion will consist of five topics with each speaker discussing on their own topic.
The speakers and topics included are Dr. Gai I. Berlage, professor of women’s studies, speaking on Women Ball Players: A Part of American Baseball History. Dr. Lawrence D. Hogan, senior professor of history, speaking on Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson: Black Baseball in America in the Era of the Color Line. Ellen Rendle, historical society of Delaware, will discuss Judy Johnson: An Invisible Hero. Dr. Robert Ruck, professor of history, will speak on The Tropic of Baseball: The Evolution of the Caribbean Pastime. Dr. William Simons, professor of history, will discuss Searching for Joe DiMaggio: Baseball and the American Ideal.
Several of these five historians have spoken at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and each of the five have books to their name, according to Dr. James Hedtke, history department chair.
The symposium, which requires pre-registration, begins with the late registration at 8:30 a.m. and as mentioned above the lecture starting at 9 a.m. A catered lunch by Wood Dining Services is offered halfway through where guests can speak one on one with the speakers.
According to Hedtke this forum is something that is expected from an Ivy League school and that it will expose students to a scholarly experience.
He also adds that students of Cabrini may also receive one credit for attending if they register in the registrar’s office.
One point that Marie Aragona, president of the history club, would like to make is, “It is not about last night’s game, but it’s relating to how baseball is part of the American fabric.”
Hedtke also adds, baseball is the salad dressing of America. It brings together a great variety of people in gender and ethnic backgrounds.
The symposium is open to all. Non-members of the Cabrini community may obtain a registration form from the history department. Non-members do have a registration fee of $25 for guests and $15 for visiting students, but parking and lunch is included.
Registration is a must because of a limited number of spaces, but Hedtke said, “Students have put this forum together. “Come and support them.”
Aragona also adds “I would like to see a big campus turnout because I think they will enjoy it.” “It will appeal to everyone.”
All students should have received a meal registration form in their mailboxes. If interested, students are asked to fill the form out with their meal number and return the form to the history department, along with all registration forms for non-members.
