* Coming soon to a library near you

(If you live in the Washington, DC area.)
The Library of Congress will host a series of baseball films from Sept. 28-Oct. 2, as part of its “Baseball Americana Lunchtime Film Series” in the Pickford Theater of the Madison Building.

Monday, Sept. 28
In Search of History: The World Series Fixed! The Black Sox Scandal (1998)
Eight players on the 1919 Chicago White Sox were banished from the Major Leagues for conspiring to throw the World Series, despite their courtroom acquittal in 1920. This gripping account of gamblers, gangsters, ballplayers, and a stingy team owner chronicles the events that nearly destroyed the professional game.

Tuesday, Sept. 29
When It Was a Game (1991)
This acclaimed documentary from HBO offers an unusual perspective on the Major Leagues from 1934 to 1957, as seen through the color home movies shot by fans and players. Back then, said St. Louis star outfielder Enos Slaughter, “You even had to pay for your own sandwiches between doubleheaders.”

Wednesday, Sept. 30
There Was Always Sun Shining Some Place: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues (1983)
James Earl Jones narrates this compelling but rarely shown documentary, featuring archival footage of East-West Classics, winter ball in Mexico and Cuba, and latter-day interviews with stars Satchel Paige and Buck Leonard and team owner Effa Manley.

Thursday, Oct. 1
A League of Their Own (1987) and The Steve Allen Show (1956)
See the revelatory documentary that led to a feature film about the All- American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1955) and a place in Cooperstown for its players. Also on the bill are clips from the Oct. 7, 1956, broadcast of The Steve Allen Show, featuring appearances by Mickey Mantle, Mrs. Babe Ruth, and Abbott and Costello, delivering their classic “Who’s on First” routine.

Friday, Oct. 2
The Earl of Baltimore (2005)
The Orioles’ fiery manager Earl Weaver (1968-1982, 1985-1986) calmly
ruminates on his baseball philosophy and success as a major league skipper, his 97 game ejections, and his infamous run-ins with umpires. This interview with a former commissioner of Major League Baseball is part of the Fay Vincent Oral History Project, archived at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.