604. Derby Gisclair, Part 1, Baseball

604. Part 1. Derby Gisclair returns to discuss the history of baseball in New Orleans. Derby is an expert on the topic, having written the following books:

• Early Baseball in New Orleans: A History of 19th Century Play.
• The 1910 New Orleans Pelicans: A Moment in Minor League History: Shoeless Joe Jackson and the New Orleans Pelicans Championship.
• The Dixie Series: 1920 - 1958.
  

In July of 1859, seventy-five young New Orleanians came together to form the seven teams that comprised the Louisiana Base Ball Club. They played their games in the fields of the de la Chaise estate on the outskirts of New Orleans near present-day Louisiana Avenue. As America's population grew through immigration, so did the popularity of what the largest newspaper in New Orleans, the Daily Picayune, called in November of 1860 "the National Game." Baseball quickly replaced cricket as the city's most popular participant sport. In 1887, local businessmen and promoters secured a minor league franchise for the city of New Orleans in the newly formed Southern League, beginning the city's 73-year love affair with the New Orleans Pelicans. From Shoeless Joe Jackson, to Hall of Famers Dazzy Vance, Joe Sewell, Bob Lemon, and Earl Weaver, to today's stars such as Jeff Cirillo and Lance Berkman, the road to the majors brought many notable players through New Orleans. From these early beginnings to the present-day New Orleans Zephyrs of the AAA Pacific Coast League, local fans have continued the tradition of baseball in New Orleans.

A lifelong resident of New Orleans, S. Derby Gisclair is a member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and its 19th Century, Minor Leagues, Deadball Era, Oral History, and Pictorial History Committees. He heads the Schott-Pelican Chapter of SABR in Louisiana and is on the Nominating and Selection Committees for the Greater New Orleans Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today!
   
2. This week in Louisiana history. December 14, 1814. First clash with British in War of 1812 on Lake Borgne
   
3. This week in New Orleans history. On October 14, 1975, the Dome hosted Muhammad Ali Appreciation Day. The Muhammad Temple of Islam 46 in New Orleans organized the activities, with Ali's appearance as the day's highlight. Speakers included Dr. Na'im Akbar, Wallace D. Muhammad and Louis Farrakhan.
   
4. This week in Louisiana.
   Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge Generalue
   8585 Picardy Avenue
   Baton Rouge, LA 70809
   Website
   Tickets $5.00.
       Join us at our annual Holiday Lights display, a first of its kind in Baton Rouge, where the large greenspace in front of the hospital is transformed into a twinkling, singing and musically synchronized lights display for the community to enjoy.
       Take a stroll through our lighted walking path where you'll see countless holiday sightings on display! Check out the three dancing-light mega trees, breeze through 24 feet of lighted tunnels, dance with the singing trees and pose with the lighted candy canes and snowmen. Experience the wonder of our giant walk-through ornament, present and Santa hat!
   
5. Postcards from Louisiana. The Louisiana Book Festival band plays, "When the Saints Go Marching in."

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