The Grassroots Baseball tour this summer needs suggestions on less well-known baseball sites on or near Route 66.
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is helping the soon-to-retire Baseball Hall of Fame president, Jeff Idelson, and photographer Jean Fruth as they explore Route 66.
According to the partnership:
“We are looking for kids, adults, stickball – any kind of amateur baseball practices or games that routinely take place close to Route 66,” said Idelson.
Idelson and Fruth’s Grassroots Baseball tour will be used to develop a new book, “Grassroots Baseball: Route 66,” scheduled for release in 2021. They already are aware of minor league teams in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and California. What they are specifically interested in are local teams and events that aren’t as widely known. They are looking for baseball being played now, as well as next spring and summer when Jean will conclude shooting.
You already may have seen news about their visits to Peoria, Illinois, in May, and St. Louis in June. There’s still time to provide story suggestions for the remaining travel schedule:
- July – Oklahoma
- August – Texas/New Mexico
- September – Arizona
- October – California
Send your ideas to rt66theroadahead(at)gmail(dot)com.
Learn more on Grassroots Baseball’s website at www.grassrootsbaseball.com or follow it on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
(Image of a baseball by Patrick via Flickr)
Bummer. This from the “Road Ahead”….
“Hello, Rod.
Thank you very much for the information regarding Joe Becker Stadium.
Unfortunately, we did not learn about the Grassroots Baseball project until recently. The group has already passed through Missouri and is headed West, per the following schedule:
· July – Oklahoma
· August – Texas/New Mexico
· September – Arizona
· October – California
I’m worry we weren’t able to suggest this stop in Missouri.
Onward and upward,
Bill Thomas, Chairman
Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership”
On Sat, Jun 29, 2019 at 9:41 AM Visit 66 videopro192@yahoo.com wrote:
Attention: Director, The Road Ahead organization
Re. “The Grassroots Baseball tour this summer needs suggestions on less well-known baseball sites on or near Route 66.”
Please consider the historic Joe Becker Stadium which is located less than one block from the original path of Route 66, aka. Joplin’s ‘Broadway’, also named ‘Langston Hughes Blvd.”.
Here is the link to the City of Joplin information:
https://www.joplinmo.org/953/Joe-Becker-Stadium
The former mayor of Joplin, Melodee Colbert-Keene, owns “Me’s”, a ‘soul food’ themed restaurant on 66 just a block away, and is very active in promoting the Mother Road.
The rich history of this landmark can be found on Wikipedia, and I would be happy to assist in this project.
Respectfully,
Rod Harsh
Director
Route 66 Chamber of Commerce
417-385-6966
http://www.visit66.com
As soon as I read the Route 66 News, I immediately sent the above info only to learn that the Grassroots Baseball Project team had already passed through Missouri! Those guys travel fast, but they missed a great opportunity here in Joplin. As I said…BUMMER!
Bill apparently needs to read Route 66 News more often. The original story about the baseball tour was published weeks ago.