Fall is rapidly approaching, and the Baltimore Orioles are going toe-to-toe with the New York Yankees for a place in the post-season.  On September 19th, Tim Newby, one of Baltimore's most beloved historians, is releasing a new book: "The Original Louisville Slugger: The Life and Times of Forgotten Baseball Legend Pete Browning," at Pickett Brewing Company in Baltimore. If Newby's name sounds familiar, you may know him from his two prior books, "Bluegrass in Baltimore: The Hard Drivin' Sound and Its Legacy" and, more famously, "Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival!"

Baseball has been a keystone in American history and culture going back to the early to mid-1800s, and many of the legends have been cemented into our cultural identity.  While some players have been memorialized in songs, such as Joe DiMaggio in Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson," others have been forgotten.  While every American recognizes and associates "Louisville Slugger" with a baseball bat, the original Louisville Slugger, Pete Browning  (June 17, 1861 – September 10, 1905), has been forgotten in the pages of history.  

Louis "Pete" Rogers Browning was one of the greatest baseball players of the nineteenth century. His skills with the bat made the difficult art of hitting a baseball appear easy. Over his thirteen-year career, he won three batting titles, finished in the top three nine times, and was one of the premodern era's greatest hitters. Known as the Gladiator, he drank Tabasco sauce, washed his eyes with buttermilk, and named bats after biblical characters, all in an effort to improve his hitting. Tim Newby addresses the myths surrounding the larger-than-life figure, uncovers the thin line between fact and fiction, and presents an extensive account of Browning—the man and legendary ball player.

Newby will be on hand to read select chapters from his new book. Beers and baseball in Baltimore on a crisp fall evening - what could be better? The only thing that could be a true trifecta, or, as it were - a triple play - would be the addition of some bluegrass music!

Newby has assembled a mind-blowing all-star band of musicians for the evening. John Bolten and Sarah Larsen from Geraldin, Greg Garrison from Leftover Salmon, Ryan Rogers from the Dirty Grass Players, and Danny Stewart from Country Current.

 Like a moth to a flame - one never knows who else might sit in and join in the festivities. After all, beers, baseball, and bluegrass, and Tim Newby has a lot of friends in the DMV and music community. 

Hope to see you all in September at Pickett Brewing Company!  Be sure to pick up a signed copy of baseball history at what is certain to be an unforgettable night celebrating the trifectas of joy - beers, baseball, and bluegrass!

To learn more about The Original Louisville Slugger, please see the following web resources:

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To learn more about Tim Newby, please see the following web resources:

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• Amazon Profile