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Celebrate various aspects of the national pastime in the nation’s capital.
Located on the third floor mezzanine of the National Portrait Gallery, Champions uses portraits, drawings, statues and memorabilia to highlight American sports figures whose achievements made them a part of the country’s story at-large. Among the numerous baseball heroes you’ll find there: Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle and Casey Stengel.
Baseball poster at National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Sports exhibit - Baseball in Washington, DC
Sports: Leveling the Playing Field dives deep into the incredible contributions that African Americans have made to the realm of sports, both on and off the field, in a constant struggle for equality and recognition. The baseball portion of the exhibit highlights the accomplishments and appeal of Negro Leagues Baseball, as well as the biggest African American stars of the sport. You can also see a statue of Jackie Robinson, the man responsible for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, sliding into a base.
Sometimes, you just want to nestle up to the bar at a local tavern, order a beer and watch some baseball. DC has dozens of options for such an activity, from the TVs-and-games laden Penn Social to the three grand bars at Clyde’s of Gallery Place to the home-team-centric Penn Commons, located right next to Capital One Arena. If a dive bar is more up your alley, check out DC Reynolds or Nellie’s, which also hosts a famous drag brunch on Sundays.
DC is rife with athletic fields, and after all your baseball-themed exploration, you may feel inclined to play a game of catch or have some batting practice. DC’s department of parks and recreation helpfully lists the available athletic fields in the area. You can also check out our sports and outdoor recreation page for other ways to play in the District.
Still craving baseball in Washington, DC? Check out all the reasons to attend a Nationals game.
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