Ah, a tell-tale sign that football season is approaching yet again: I’m in the mood for both the beach and a pumpkin spice something. While I figure out how to make that combo work in this 90-degree Virginia heat, I’m enjoying everything this DC-area summer can offer, baseballwise—you know, like hosting the 89th All-Star Game (*insert hair-flip emoji here*).
As Tuesday’s game closes in, the excitement in D.C. continues to build, even in the form of art. Last Thursday, Major League Baseball unveiled its new mural on the side of Lincoln Theatre in the alley between it and Ben’s Chili Bowl. The vibrant treat for the eyes, beautifully crafted by DC artist Aniekan Udofia, features baseball legends Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Josh Gibson, who each have ties to D.C. as well.
Johnson, the first female pitcher to play in the Negro Leagues, lived in D.C. as a teenager in the ‘50s. With her friend Rita Clark and under the glare of onlookers, she tried out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. “I never really knew what prejudice was until then,” Johnson recalled at one time. Of course, as any great underdog would, Johnson eventually overcame the odds, later that same year pitching for a church-sponsored team and dominating a male lineup. This performance earned her an invite to try out—and ultimately play for—the Negro Leagues’ Indianapolis Clowns, and by the end of her three-year career, Johnson achieved a 33-8 record.
Gibson, considered by baseball historians to be one of the best power hitters and catchers, was known by many fans as “the black Babe Ruth”—although others considered Ruth “the white Josh Gibson.” In fact, after breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record in 2007, Barry Bonds dubbed Gibson as “the real home run king”, given his career total of around 800 homers. The Hall of Famer spent most of his 10-year career with the Homestead Grays, who played many of their games in D.C. throughout the ‘40s. Now, his impact on baseball is cemented outside of Nationals Park with a statue in his honor.
So, the next time you’re on U Street, get a good look at the mural of a couple D.C. baseball greats while you enjoy an iconic chili dog or two—and don’t forget to add cheese; it’s only 99 cents extra.
