The first presentation at the 77th annual Amos Fortune Forum summer speaker series will feature baseball historian Rob Hannings presenting “America’s Pastime: A Journey Through Local Baseball History” Friday, July 5, at 8 p.m. at the Meetinghouse in Jaffrey Center.

Hannings will bring to life the legends and rivalries of local town baseball teams. He will share memorabilia showing the evolution of baseball equipment, including vintage mitts and uniforms from local teams and players, as well as present-day items. His free presentation will also feature his research on the Nashua Dodgers, which became the first integrated affiliated baseball team in the United States in 1946 when Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe joined the team. 

Hannings’ lifelong passion has been baseball memories and vintage memorabilia. Born in the Bronx as a Yankee fan, he has lived in the Monadnock region for 50 years. His baseball playing career has taken him across the country and abroad to Canada and Ireland. In addtion to his playing career, he is known to many as the “The Mitt Doctor,” repairing and relacing baseball gloves for hundreds of high school and college players. He served as the campus electrician at Franklin Pierce University for 22 years and resides in Greenfield with his wife Valli. 

This summer, the forum is providing space and seating on the Meetinghouse Common for attendees who would like to arrive early and bring a picnic. This space will be set up on Friday evening by 6:30 p.m.  

A recording of each event will be available on YouTube shortly after the presentation.Information is available at amosfortune.com.