The Man Who Changed the Face of Baseball

For baseball diehards, it’s a long, dark, cold winter without the sun on your face, a St. Louis dog in hand and Mike Shannon on the radio. The 2012 baseball season is a distant memory, and spring training is still seven ice-covered weeks away.

However, Jackie and Me, a new production from Metro Theatre Company and Edison Theatre is keeping baseball in play this January and bringing kids face to face with the man who broke down barriers in stadiums across the U.S.

Through the power of a magical baseball card, Joey Stoshack, a young baseball fan, and the Metro Theater Company audience are transported back to 1947 on the day Jackie Robinson becomes the first black man to play for the major leagues.

Joey experiences life as an African-American child at a time when racism was the norm and witnesses how Robinson’s talent, dignity and perseverance changed not only the face of baseball, but how we perceive each other.

Jackie and Me, written by playwright Steven Dietz, is adapted from a book in Dan Gutman’s popular "& Me" Baseball Card Adventures series and is ideal for kids ages 9 and older. It stars Reginald Pierre as Robinson (pictured above), and is one of only four national productions of the play (the others were in Chicago, Seattle and Houston).

The show runs January 8-27, with an opening night reception on January 11 at 7:30 p.m. featuring an appearance by playwright Dietz. Tickets for Jackie and Me are $18 for adults and $14 for students, and can be purchased by visiting www.metromix.com or contacting the Edison Theatre Box Office at 314-935-6543.

Said Charlie Robin, executive director of Edison Theatre, “At its foundation, Jackie and Me is a story for kids and about kids. It starts at a point of creation and imagination that we as adults discount or have lost the ability to fully embrace. It's therefore a great reminder for us adults as well."

To truly show kids the impact Robinson had on the game, Metro has invited some special guests for post-show discussions January 18, 19 and 20. Players from the Negro Leagues who followed Robinson into professional baseball will describe how this incredible star opened the doors for them and share inspiring stories of how they overcame prejudice on the playing field.

Whether you’re a diehard baseball fan or someone (like me) who heads to the stadium just for the snacks, Jackie and Me is an inspirational look at one man who changed the rules through his courageous efforts.

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting

Metro East mom Nicole Plegge is the lifestyle and pop culture blogger for SmartParenting. Besides working full time for a local nonprofit and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls.