That time Louis Armstrong struck a batter out

It is easy to name great athletes in New Orleans history, but while Louis Armstrong is among the city’s favorite sons, you probably wouldn’t put him in the local sports hall of fame.

In 1931, however, when baseball was segregated, Satchmo sponsored his own team, called the “Secret 9.” In an August game, Armstrong took to the mound and struck out the opponent’s first batter with much fanfare, to the delight of the crowd.

Learn more about the history of sports in New Orleans at THNOC’s exhibition, “Crescent City Sport: Stories of Courage and Change,” on view through March 20, 2020.

– Eli A. Haddow, The Historic New Orleans Collection