FredNats, Fredericksburg Area Museum, and Community Partners Honor Black Baseball History with Special Event and Uniform Unveiling

Fredericksburg, VA (February 14, 2025) — The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is proud to partner with the Fredericksburg Nationals, Germanna Community College, and Dovetail Cultural Resource Group/Mead & Hunt to honor the legacy of African American baseball in the Fredericksburg region. This special event builds upon years of historical research and storytelling that began when the FredNats arrived in the area in 2020.

Join us on Wednesday, February 19, at 5:30pm at Virginia Credit Union Stadium for an evening of history and celebration. The event will feature a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Gaila Sims, FAM’s Curator of African American History and Vice President of Programs and Interpretation. Dr. Kerri Barile Tambs, a historian at Dovetail/Mead & Hunt, will present key findings from extensive research on the African American experience in local baseball. The panel will also include community members with personal connections to this rich history, sharing stories that highlight resilience, talent, and the impact of Black athletes in the region.

A highlight of the evening will be the official unveiling of the FredNats’ new uniforms and hats, inspired by the legacy of an all-African American baseball team that played in downtown Fredericksburg from 1919 through at least the late 1930s. This team, known at the time as “the world’s most hoppinest team,” left a lasting impact on the city’s sports history.

This is a FREE event open to the public. It will take place in the club area of Virginia Credit Union Stadium and refreshments will be served.

At FAM, we are committed to preserving and sharing the untold stories of Fredericksburg’s history. We are thrilled to collaborate on this meaningful project and invite the community to join us as we celebrate the powerful legacy of Black baseball in our region.