Former Home Field For MOCO Black Baseball Sandlot Teams To Be Restored

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A baseball field that was once a hub for Black baseball sandlot teams in Montgomery County will soon be renovated, County Councilmembers Hans Riemer announced.

Johnson’s Local Park in Emory Grove will see a conversion of the existing softball field to a baseball field with a new outfield fence and scoreboard, a conversion of tennis courts to soccer courts, basketball court renovations, new pickleball courts, lighting upgrades, picnic areas, walkways and parking lot upgrades.

"Along with churches and schools, baseball became the center of civic life in the mid-20th century when many Black communities organized sandlot teams," the news release says. "The premier field for the County’s Black sandlot teams was Johnson’s Park in Emory Grove which had lights, allowing for games to continue to be played into the night. Residents would gather there throughout the summer for food, fellowship, religious services, and baseball. Barnstorming Negro League teams came to Emory Grove to take on the County’s top sandlot teams, including some of the game’s most famous players."

The county said that the field at Johnson's Park still looks the same as it did in the 1960s and '70s, when Black sandlot baseball teams started to disband.

“Johnson’s Park was an important anchor in the Black community, a gathering place for people from around the county,” said Montgomery History Director Matt Logan in the news release. “Its significance extended far beyond the baseball games that were played. We are thrilled to see the park reestablished and brought back to life as a place rich in local history where people can connect with one another again."

Along with the upgrades, the park will also be the first in the “Untold Stories Initiative,” which aims to educate residents about the history of diverse groups in the county. Johnson's Park will have an exhibit highlighting the history of the park.

“I am thrilled by the chance to make Johnson’s Park a premier baseball field once again,” said Councilmember Hans Riemer in a news release. “As a baseball dad and coach, I hope to see this field become a renowned place for competitive youth baseball, where players will not only play on the same ground as some of the County’s greats, but see murals and storyboards showcasing that unique history and come away with a deeper understanding of the community they live in and the game they love.”

The project is intended to honor the rich history of the field and its importance in the Black community. One former Scotland Eagles player summed up what the field could mean to the people who went there.

“When you played at night at Johnson’s Park, you felt like a pro,” said third baseman Eddie Dove.