Thursday, September 24, 2020
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
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
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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
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8:30 a.m. Depart Delta Hotel DTW
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9:00–10:30 a.m. Motown Museum (admission included)
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10:45–11:45 a.m. Detroit Historical Museum (admission included)
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Detroit Stars pop-up exhibit, including Turkey Stearnes portrait
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Presentation by artist Philip Dewey on his Turkey Stearnes portrait & Negro Leagues art
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12:00 noon–1:15 p.m. Lunch on your own in Corktown at Nemo’s, Slows, or other nearby restaurants
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1:15–1:45 Visit redeveloped Tiger Stadium site / Detroit PAL Headquarters (free)
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2:00–3:00 p.m. Visit to Hamtramck Stadium & Hamtramck Stadium Historic Marker (free)
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3:15 p.m. Drive by former site of Mack Park
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3:30 p.m. Drive by Ossian Sweet house
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3:45 p.m. Drive by Church of the Messiah/former site of Boulevard Park
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4:00 p.m. Drive by WGPR Museum and 447 Alfred Street, Rap Dixon's residence in Detroit
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4:15 p.m. Arrive at Comerica Park for pregame Negro League Players Panel (included w/Tigers game ticket)
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6:10 p.m. 1st pitch: Detroit Tigers/Stars annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game vs. Kansas City Royals/Monarchs (ticket included)
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9:30 p.m. Bus departs Comerica Park to return to Delta Hotel