Baseball Festivals
Purpose: Baseball is the national pastime and Yankee Stadium is America’s foremost baseball venue. The BID sponsors two festivals to celebrate the sport and to honor the contributions made to the game by the Hispanic community and the African-American community. Each festival is designed to incorporate music, museum exhibits and movies that educate and entertain guests.
Project: The Hispanic Baseball Festival was held on September 27, 2009. Partners included the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, the South Bronx Film Festival, Latino Sports Ventures, Community Board 4 and the Borough President’s Office.
Participants: • Baseball Hall of famer, Orlando Cepeda • Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. • Luisito Rey and his Orchestra • Consuls and Ambassadors from the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico • 500 guests
Program: • Reception for VIPs • Dedication of Lou Gehrig Plaza (ribbon-cutting ceremony) • Museum exhibits of baseball memorabilia from Latin America • Concert • Community screening of SUGAR, 21, and Road to the Big Leagues.
Projected: African-American Baseball Festival, Spring 2010 in conjunction with the Negro Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame