Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligasComing to The Bishop
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, A Smithsonian Affiliate, is proud to present the history and culture of Latinos and their impact on American culture and society through the lens of baseball in a new bilingual (Spanish and English) exhibition, ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas. ¡Pleibol! will be on view from April 4 through June 28, 2026.
¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas was organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of American History. The exhibition received generous support from the Cordoba Corporation and Linda Alvarado, as well as federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
The exhibition captures the excitement of the game, from community baseball teams to the Major Leagues, highlighting how it can bring people together regardless of race, class, or gender. It will feature reproductions of historic and personal photographs, graphic elements, and a short bilingual video produced by La Vida Baseball.
We’re very excited to be bringing another exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution to Manatee County, and as we move through Spring and into Summer, what better subject to be looking at than baseball!” said Andrew Sandall, Chief Executive Officer of The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. “The Pittsburgh Pirates are such a major part of our community, and of course, we have our Bradenton Marauders playing just down the road from the Museum. Both teams represent the stories of some of the most historic Hispanic baseball players of the game, while also bringing the next generation of Hispanic players into Manatee County to begin their hopefully storied careers. This exhibit gives context to the baseball culture they come from and tells the stories of those who came before them, including Roberto Clemente, so naturally it’s a must for any baseball fan, but it goes much deeper into the Latino culture and its deep connection to the sport.”
Throughout the 20th century in the United States and Latin America, baseball provided a path for a better future. Workers in agriculture and industry in the United States used baseball to make ends meet and to find a socially acceptable space to build community and organize for rights and justice.
¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas has been made possible through close collaborations with over 30 partners in 14 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico to help bring visibility to Latino community histories through baseball. Smithsonian curators collaborated with partners and local communities across the country to document and preserve baseball stories at the heart of Latino communities.
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The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is the largest natural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast. In addition to permanent exhibitions, The Bishop features a constantly changing lineup of special exhibitions. The Museum is also home to the all-digital Planetarium, the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, and the Mosaic Backyard Universe. As stewards of science and nature, The Bishop inspires curiosity, builds connections, and creates impactful experiences.
