LANCASTER, PA — The Lancaster Stormers will celebrate a century of baseball history on Friday, June 20, with a tribute to the Harrisburg Giants, a team that brought Major League Negro League Baseball to Lancaster from 1925 to 1927.
The Giants played approximately 25 games at Rossmere Baseball Park in Manheim Township, achieving a 20-5 record during their time there. Managed by Baseball Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston, the team featured notable players such as Rap Dixon, multi-sport star Fats Jenkins, and fellow Hall of Famer Ben Taylor. Rossmere Baseball Park, which once hosted various Lancaster minor league teams, was located where Lancaster Catholic School now stands.
The tribute will take place at Clipper Magazine Stadium, where the Stormers will face the Long Island Ducks while donning replica Harrisburg Giants jerseys and hats. These game-worn uniforms, sponsored by High Companies, will be auctioned during the game, with proceeds supporting the Crispus Attucks Community Center through a partnership with CAP (Community Action Partnership).
Pre-game activities will include remarks from local baseball historian Ted Knorr, India Garnett, the great-niece of Giants star Rap Dixon, and Jeremy Raff. Earlier in the day, a free baseball clinic for Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster members will take place at Roberto Clemente Field, providing young players the chance to learn from the pros.
Fans attending the game will also enjoy an exhibit on Negro League Baseball and a showcase of local Black-owned businesses on the stadium concourse. As part of the festivities, Spring House Brewing Company will debut “Fence Bustin’,” a signature beer commemorating the milestone.
The event underscores the enduring influence of Negro League Baseball in Lancaster’s history and pays homage to the athletes who helped define the sport’s legacy.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.