“Put me in, Coach!” Kim Henry, left, and Deborah Franklin enjoyed the part of the exhibit that focused on women in baseball.
Coinciding with the scheduled return of the Smokies baseball team to downtown Knoxville next month, the East Tennessee History Center this Saturday will open a fun and fact-filled exhibit on the history of the sport in Tennessee.
Local supporters celebrated with a sneak preview and a reception at the Gay Street center last night. The exhibit is chock-full of fascinating details ranging from the origin of famous quotes and sayings to historical photos and artifacts dating back to the first baseball game in Knoxville.
Held in 1867, just two years after the end of the Civil War, the game featured two local teams — the Knoxvilles and the Holstons — and was played not far from the location of the Smokies’ new stadium, Covenant Health Park.
“Baseball brings people together,” an enthusiastic Randy Boyd, owner of the Knoxville Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A minor league affiliate, said during brief remarks. “When you watch some sports, people are looking straight ahead, glued to the game action. But in baseball, they are looking at each other, talking and socializing. Young and old; rich and poor; people from all parts of the community.”
The exhibit, called “Home Runs & Home Teams,” opens to the public March 22 and will run through Sept. 28. The Smokies will play their first home game in the new publicly owned multi-use stadium on April 15. After brisk season ticket sales, tickets to individual games went on sale yesterday.
Randy and Jenny Boyd posed in front of the exhibit’s front door.
You might have had a hard time finding Cracker Jack in Knoxville last night because bags of them were heaped on every table!
From left, Warren Dockter, president and CEO of the East Tennessee Historical Society, which runs the History Center; Gay Lyons, the society’s chief development officer; former Knoxville Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe; and former Knoxville City Councilman Ed Shouse.
Sam Albritton, chair of the board of the East Tennessee Historical Society, with Knoxville City Council members Lynne Fugate, left, and Seema Singh.
“Home Runs & Home Teams” is the name of the new exhibit.
From left, Bill Lyons, of the Howard Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee; Knoxville Law Director Charles Swanson; and Christi Branscom of Partners Development, which is building and marketing the condominiums located at Covenant Health Park.
Jack Neely, executive director of the Knoxville History Project, peruses the new exhibit.
Knoxville Smokies CEO Doug Kirchhofer, left, with Vice President Jeremy Boler, and Boyd Sports CFO Paul Makres. (That guy on the far left isn’t real!)
Harry Gross, right, with Ruth and Joe Fielden. Fielden’s company is building and marketing the apartments at Covenant Health Park.
Everyone loved seeing the exhibit.
You can see Smokies’ uniforms through the years.
Sherry Jenkins, left, and Vicki Baumgartner of the Dogwood Arts Festival.
Randy Boyd can’t wait until April 15 and the Smokies’ first game at Covenant Health Park.
Adam Alfrey is assistant director of historical services for the Knox County Public Libraries, of which the History Center is a part. He assembled the exhibit and told us that two other Tennessee museums already have expressed interest in hosting the exhibit in their communities.
Paul James, left, development director of the Knoxville History Project, with Polly and Kevin Matherly.
Downtowners Mike and Kendall Keller.
Mary Fran Darwin, left, and Amy Styles.
Shelley Burns and Alan Carmichael.
Scott and Lynne Fugate.
I found the section on women in baseball very interesting.
After I puzzled out loud about why women would play baseball in a skirt, Deborah Franklin did a little investigating and discovered that they wore shorts underneath!
From left, Janet Testerman, Alan Carmichael, and Joey Creswell. Janet was on Knoxville City Council when funding for the stadium was approved in 2021.
Hanson Bass with her father, Richard Bass.
Hancen Sale and Maria McHale.
I loved the story about Grantland Rice, the man who coined the phrase, “It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game!”
Gayle Burnett, left, and Amanda Dotson.
Gary Bentley was intently studying the exhibit. I think it could take several visits to fully take everything in.
From left, Knoxville Smokies General Manager Tim Volk; Vice President Jeremy Boler; and Boyd Sports CFO Paul Makres.
From left, Knox County Circuit Court Clerk Charlie Susano, Register of Deeds Nick McBride; Crown Plaza General Manager Ken Knight; former Sheriff J.J. Jones; lobbyist Mike Arms and his wife, Kim.
From left, Gabe Bolas, president and CEO of Knoxville Utilities Board, with Rick and Alta Emmett.
Elizabeth and Jim Williams.
David Butler and Lisa Skinner.
A shirt celebrating the Smokies winning the Southern League Championship in 2023.
The History Center is selling commemorative t-shirts for $20.
Glad you enjoyed the party & the exhibition. We are thrilled at the enthusiastic reception it has received.
It is a really nice exhibit. It is statewide in focus, and they are planning a day at the center to celebrate local major leaguer Ed Bailey. Todd Helton is spotlighted.
Gay: You all did a fantastic job on it. Congrats!
Alan: So glad they are planning “Ed Bailey Day!” Will be fun.
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