GHOSTS OF MESSER STREET

THE PROVIDENCE GRAYS

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. By the late 1870s, “baseball” fever was ascendant in Lil’ Rhody. In January 1878, less than two years after the formation of the National League, Providence was awarded a Major League franchise—the Providence Grays.

Enthusiast and historic base ball player Jon Henson presents the Ghosts of Messer Street: The Providence Grays of the National League, 1878-1885 on Monday, August 5, 2019 at 7pm in the Champlin Program Room of the Weaver Library. Henson recounts the rise and dominance of this local powerhouse club that, in its short existence, fielded four future Hall of Famers and won two NL pennants as well as the first postseason interleague world championship series. The talk reveals the colorful personalities and anecdotes of the club that held court on the Messer Street Grounds for eight seasons in Providence’s West End, bringing celebrity and excitement to the community.

 

Jon Henson’s love of history and baseball found expression when he became a regular player for the Providence Grays vintage base ball club in 2012, traveling around the Northeast each year from April through October to help bring the old game to life as it was played in the mid to late 1800s. In his day job, he develops curriculum and trains instructors for the elevator industry’s educational program and teaches writing at the Roger Williams University College campus in Providence.

 

The Weaver Library is located at 41 Grove Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914. For more information, please visit www.eastprovidencelibrary.org. 

This program is free and open to all.