On the same day the World Series kicked off, Slingerlands Elementary School hosted its much-anticipated second annual Fourth Grade Baseball Tournament.

After weeks of reading about the incredible life of professional baseball pitcher Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, fourth graders at Slingerlands Elementary School celebrated with a fall tradition inspired by Johnson’s story. 

The students read A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson as part of their reading curriculum, learning about baseball, courage, determination and the power of pursuing a dream. The students learned about the history of segregation and the many challenges Johnson faced as she pursued her love of baseball and became the only woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues. Visit mlb.com to learn more about the Negro Leagues and Mamie “Peanut” Johnson.

This year’s baseball tournament on Oct. 23 was played under bright blue skies on a beautiful fall day, with family members in attendance. Students encouraged one another and cheered for both teammates and opponents as they paid tribute to the professional athlete and role model they got to know in the pages of their book.

Thank you to our Slingerlands fourth-grade teachers and to the late Mamie “Peanut” Johnson for making this lesson a memorable one for students.