MANCHESTER, New Hampshire – As Newtown opens its own connection with the earliest days of base ball, the Manchester Historic Association in Manchester, New Hampshire, is opening a new exhibit entitled “Batter Up!: The History of Baseball in Manchester” on Saturday, April 2, at the Millyard Museum.

The exhibit – which previews on Friday, April 1, from 5 to 7 pm, with an address from Drew Weber, owner of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Lowell Spinners – will run through September 3.

By the 1860s, baseball was America’s favorite pastime, having evolved from the English game of rounders (which dates back to the 18th century) and later “town ball,” an early American version that added “strikes” and “walks” to the game.

Manchester’s introduction to baseball came in the first half of the 19th century and by the mid-1800s official clubs had formed.

The exhibit will explore the city’s love of the game using historic photographs, memorabilia and artifacts from the MHA’s historic collection and through the courtesy of various lenders. Visitors can learn about the first organized clubs around the time of the Civil War, the development of pro-fessional leagues; the Sunset League — so called because it was made up of teams from local businesses that played after work — the minor league teams at Textile Field and Gill Stadium, up to the present day and the opening of the new stadium on the river, home of the 2004 Eastern League New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Manchester also produced baseball equipment from the earliest days of the sport. The textile mills produced “baseball cloth” for uniforms, and bats were made by local wood shops – including custom bats for Hall of Famer Honus Wagner.

Manchester produced its share of professional ball players, and this exhibit will spotlight a few, including Mike Flanagan, Steve Balboni and St Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Chris Carpenter. The exhibit will feature a timeline of Manchester Baseball history along with artifacts, including a 19th century soft leather baseball, a three fingered mitt, early woolen team uniform shirts, the model for Honus Wagner’s custom bat and an authentic Gill Stadium bench a – recent donation to the MHA from the City of Manchester.

The museum has programs and events in conjunction with the exhibit, including book discussions, concerts, Time Travelers’ Summer Camp activities and an American wine tasting series.

For further information, call 1-603-622-7531 or visit www.manchesterhistoric.org.