Baseball: for over a century, the game has been known as "America’s favorite pastime." During the early parts of the 20th century, tuning in to a baseball game on the radio after a long day at work became a ritual of the American working class, beloved by citizens of all races. But while Black citizens loved baseball,… continue reading Collection Spotlight: Highlights from the Negro Leagues
By written by Chris M. April 19, 2024 1
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, we present a curated collection of podcasts from our Author Events series archive. Thanksgiving is often traditionally associated with America’s indigenous peoples, but what is the real story of Native Americans? From 2019, here’s the author and Ojibwe from the Leech Lake Reservation in… continue reading 10 Free Library Podcast Episodes Perfect for Thanksgiving
By written by Jason F. November 20, 2023
Are you ready for some football?! We are! We can't wait to watch our Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. While you wait out the last couple days before kickoff, here are five ways you can celebrate and cheer on the Birds with the Free Library! 1.… continue reading Fly, Eagles, Fly! 5 Ways to Celebrate the Big Game with the Free Library
By written by Kate C. February 10, 2023
Today is the 36th annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) , started in 1974 by the Women’s Sports Foundation . The purpose of the foundation is to provide support, resources, and communities for young girls and women in the world of sports. They also are passionate about promoting the physical, mental, and… continue reading National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD)
By written by Kamilah C. February 2, 2022
After the postponement of the 2020 Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the torch will be lit once again this year as the rescheduled Summer Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan starting today, Friday, July 23, and run through Sunday, August 8 . This Summer Olympic Games, the 29th held since 1896, will feature over 11,000 athletes competing… continue reading Local Athletes Competing in the Summer Olympics
By written by Peter SM July 23, 2021 1
The Rare Book Department has some true treasures within its collections, but perhaps one of its most special collections is the First Folio of William Shakespeare . What is the “First Folio”? It contains the collected works of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, printed on larger-than-normal size paper for the… continue reading Who Said It: Shakespeare, Milton, or Shake Milton?
By written by Peter SM April 28, 2021
Have you seen the movie A League of Their Own ? This famous movie highlights the early years of the Women’s Baseball League in 1943. However, if you were a Negro woman during the 1940s, segregation laws forbid you from playing. How would you play the game you loved? Well, if your name is Marcenia Lyle , you become resourceful. In 1949,… continue reading Toni Stone: The First Female Player in the Negro League
By written by Sandy M. February 4, 2021 1
The 2020 Olympic Games were supposed to be starting today in Tokyo, Japan, but the Olympic flame will not be lit this summer . This year's Olympics were postponed back in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed until July 23 - August 8, 2021 . Since the opening of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the international sports… continue reading Digital Media Spotlight: Olympic Memories of the Past
By written by Peter SM July 23, 2020
I never would have pegged myself as someone who wanted to read about "the sports", but there are some sweet and dramatic comics and graphic novels that have changed my mind about that in the past few years. If you too are reluctant to read about the sportsball or sportsing, if you will, allow me to tempt you to change your mind with a… continue reading Queer Comics About Sports!
By written by Rachel F. June 10, 2020
During this fall season of Free Library Author Events , we’re seeing a lot of cultural connections between our authors and speakers. Let’s talk about the events taking place two days in a row, both off-site at the same location (the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania), and both featuring writers that exist in a… continue reading Fall 2019 Author Events: Cultural Connections
By written by Author Events September 9, 2019 1
If you had told me a few years ago that I would be fully obsessed with either ice hockey or fencing by way of comics I would have laughed SO HARD. I’m barely into watching baseball or football – and those have snacks readily available! But wow, there are some amazing sports comics out there. Or maybe I am just really into the titles… continue reading Rah! Rah! Sis Boom Bah!: Let's Hear It for Sports Comics and Manga!
By written by Rachel F. April 17, 2019 2
I have a confession to make—I am that friend who always wants to get a trivia team together on a Tuesday night. I’m also that kid who read Trivial Pursuit cards for fun to see if I could guess the answers. And I ask Santa for those one-a-day calendars of random facts every year. I love learning about something new, especially in… continue reading Celebrating the Trivia Nerd in All of Us
By written by Christine M. January 4, 2019 3
Completing a marathon is a huge accomplishment! Months of training and hard work culminating with one exciting day – running a mind-boggling 26.2 miles and testing the limits of the human body and spirit like almost nothing else can! I’ve completed one marathon in my life, and I have to say, that’s quite enough for me.… continue reading The 25th Annual Philadelphia Marathon Weekend Is Here!
By written by Kate C. November 13, 2018 1
Tonight at 8:20 p.m., the world champion Philadelphia Eagles officially open their 2018 season against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. We don’t know about you, but we’re still amped up about last February’s big win ! But if we must turn the page on a new season, we’re going to do so library-style! … continue reading Celebrate the Return of Your World Champion Philadelphia Eagles with the Free Library!
By written by Kate C. September 6, 2018
In these days of big bucks baseball, with the top players making over $30 million a year and the top clubs valued in the billions, it’s hard to imagine a time when America’s Pastime was an amateur endeavor and players not only played for nothing, they often made their own bats and balls . Things began to change after the Civil… continue reading A History Minute | The Fortunes of Philadelphia - Let's Play Ball!
By written by Sally F. July 17, 2018 1
We know all of Philly is still excited over the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl win, but there is another monumental sporting event to also get fired up for that begins at the end of this week: the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. Now, when I think of the Olympics (or, really, any sporting event), I have this image forever… continue reading Local Athletes Competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics
By written by Administrator February 6, 2018 2
Chances are you have driven, biked, run, walked, or partied on Kelly Drive, but have you ever wondered where it got its name? No, it’s not named for Grace Kelly , movie star and princess. It’s named for her brother, John B. Kelly, Jr. , three-term city councilman, Olympic rower, and 1947 winner of the James E. Sullivan Award as top… continue reading A History Minute: The Fortunes of Philadelphia - The Kellys
By written by Sally F. November 16, 2017
The NFL Draft is coming to Philadelphia! And it is happening on the front lawn of the Parkway Central Library —the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. But perhaps the American football craze isn’t your thing, in which case you may be feeling a little left out of the party. We’ve got you covered! While 200,000 fans will be checking out… continue reading NFL Draft Not Your Thing? Check Out These Worldly Alternative Footballs!
By written by Julie B. April 24, 2017
So, I have a confession to make: up until the beginning of this year, I had no idea who Simone Biles was. I'm not big on sports and had no interest in watching the Olympics this past year. Admittedly, it's kind of hard to get televsion reception under the rock I was living under. I've rectified this egregious offense now due to our… continue reading Going for the Gold with Simone Biles
By written by Peter SM January 4, 2017
The world is mourning the death of another larger-than-life pop culture icon, hero, and force of sheer nature: Muhammad Ali . The self-described, but no less true, "Greatest of All Time" may have been a worldwide phenomenon, but he also had special Philly-area ties: Ali became the heavyweight champion in 1964 by beating Philly boxer… continue reading Muhammad Ali's Philly Ties
By written by Peter SM June 8, 2016 1
