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Detroit Stars Centennial Conference Schedule, August 8–10

 

Presentations, Talks, and Events

Thursday, August 8

 

10:00 a.m. Welcome Address by Gary Gillette, Founder of Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium [15m]

10:15 a.m. Mike “Tiger” Price on the history of the Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame and Gallery [30m]

10:45 a.m. Featured author Mitch Lutzke on his 2018 award-winning, book The Page Fence Giants [55m]

11:40 a.m. Book signing break

11:55 p.m. Kevin Johnson “Mack Park–Friend or Foe?” [30m]

12:25 Lunch break [1h20]

1:45 p.m. Ted Knorr “Top Ten Reasons Why Negro Leagues Should be Designated as Major League” [30m]

2:15 p.m. Dr. Lisa Alexander on Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings movie revisited [30m]

2:45 p.m. Melanie Markowicz “Preserving African American Cultural Heritage: Lessons from Hamtramck Stadium" [30m]

3:15 p.m. Break [15m]

3:30 p.m. SmithGroup Architect Brian Powers "The Nuts and Bolts of Hamtramck Stadium: Developing the Historic Structures Report" [30m]

4:00 p.m. Vanessa Ivy Rose, Turkey Stearnes’ granddaughter, “Combining Forces: Restorative Options for Baseball Integration and the Inclusion of the Negro Leagues” [30m]

4:30 p.m. Break [30m]

5:00 p.m. Reception honoring the Stearnes' family and other family members of Detroit Negro League players [2h]

Friday August 9

10:00 a.m. Welcome by Gary Gillette, Founder of Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium [10m]

10:10 a.m. Featured author Dr. James Brunson on his recent three-volume master work Black Baseball: 1858–1900 [55m]

11:05 Book signing break

11:20 a.m. Dr. Geri Strecker “Home Field Advantage in the Negro Leagues” [30m]

11:50 Lunch break [1h25]

1:15 p.m. Gary Gillette “Retrospective Tributes: A Very Brief History of Negro League Baseball Cards” [30m]

1:45 p.m. Dr. Leslie Heaphy “An Historian’s Journey: Beyond Just the Facts” [30m]

2:15 p.m. Gary Gillette on selecting the All-Time Detroit Stars Centennial Team [30m]

2:45 p.m. Lizz Wilkinson on "The Importance of Negro League Photography [30m]

3:15 p.m. Break [15m]

3:30 p.m. “Don’t-Call-It-Trivia!” contest hosted by acknowledged “Master of Significa” Ted Knorr [60m]

4:30 p.m. Paul Healey on compiling day-by-day schedules for all seven major Negro Leagues [30m]

5:00 p.m. Break [30m]

5:30 p.m. Pizza Party with award-winning Negro Leagues author & producer Donn Rogosin

  • Screening of documentary There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace [1h30 incl. Q&A]

Saturday (at the Detroit Historical Museum), August 10

10:45 Artist Phil Dewey on his Turkey Stearnes portrait and his Negro Leagues paintings [30m]

 

Detroit Stars Centennial Conference Bus Tour Saturday, August 10

  • 8:30 a.m. Depart Delta Hotel DTW

  • 9:00–10:30 a.m. Motown Museum (admission included)

  • 10:45–11:45 a.m. Detroit Historical Museum (admission included)

    • Detroit Stars pop-up exhibit, including Turkey Stearnes portrait

    • Presentation by artist Philip Dewey on his Turkey Stearnes portrait & Negro Leagues art

  • 12:00 noon–1:15 p.m. Lunch on your own in Corktown at Nemo’s, Slows, or other nearby restaurants

  • 1:15–1:45 Visit redeveloped Tiger Stadium site / Detroit PAL Headquarters (free)

  • 2:00–3:00 p.m. Visit to Hamtramck Stadium & Hamtramck Stadium Historic Marker (free)

  • 3:15 p.m. Drive by former site of Mack Park

  • 3:30 p.m. Drive by Ossian Sweet house

  • 3:45 p.m. Drive by Church of the Messiah/former site of Boulevard Park

  • 4:00 p.m. Drive by WGPR Museum and 447 Alfred Street, Rap Dixon's residence in Detroit

  • 4:15 p.m. Arrive at Comerica Park for pregame Negro League Players Panel (included w/Tigers game ticket)

  • 6:10 p.m. 1st pitch: Detroit Tigers/Stars annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game vs. Kansas City Royals/Monarchs (ticket included)

  • 9:30 p.m. Bus departs Comerica Park to return to Delta Hotel

 

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