GREENSBORO, NC (February 22, 2011) – The Greensboro Historical Museum and Greensboro Cultural Center, in partnership with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, host a free musical program about sports history and the civil rights movement February 27-28. “Black Diamond” tells the story of how Satchel Paige became one of professional baseball’s most renowned figures during a time when professional sports in the US were divided by racial segregation.

Tickets are available for 2 pm and 3:30 pm performances on Sunday, February 27, at the Historical Museum, 130 Summit Ave., and for a 1 pm performance on Monday, February 28, at the Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St. Ticket reservations are recommended for all performances, and may be made by contacting Shawn Rogers at 336-373-2971.

The production, designed for children ages 4-10, was created for the stage by the acclaimed Washington, DC, Discovery Theater, a cultural arts project of the Smithsonian Institution. The Greensboro visit is funded by a grant from the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Paige was recently featured in a poll of national baseball sportswriters who voted him the best pitcher from the days of “Black Baseball,” when he pitched in more than 2,600 games, hurling 300 shutouts and 55 no-hitters. While the show revolves around Paige, “Black Diamond” also features stories of African American baseball legends Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Fleet Walker and Andrew “Rube” Foster – regarded by many as “the father of black baseball.”

For more information, visit www.greensborohistory.org, or call Betty Phillips at 336-373-6831.

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The City works with the community to improve the quality of life for residents through inclusion, diversity, and trust. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a professional staff of 2,800 employees who maintain the values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City is governed by a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight council members. For more information on the City, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov or call 336-373-CITY (2489).