Announced 10/24/2025

Manzanar Baseball Project will host the Grand Opening Doubleheader on the newly-restored ballfield at Manzanar National Historic Site in the Owens Valley, CA. 

During World War II, the baseball diamond was once a rare scene of joy and normalcy for the more than 10,000 Japanese Americans unjustly incarcerated in Manzanar. This doubleheader marks the culmination of a multi-year effort to bring Manzanar’s ballfield - and that joy - back to life.

Produced by Great Leap, Inc., the doubleheader will feature a North vs. South All-Star Game with ballplayers outfitted in 1940s uniforms and using vintage gloves and equipment. And to enhance the immersive experience, all spectators are invited to come dressed in 1940s-style clothing!

The day will include music, performance art, site-specific art installation, guest speakers and other special guests, and a participatory closing ceremony. 

We come together to honor the legacy of those who kept hope and spirit alive behind barbed wire with the help of America’s National Pastime. We celebrate the power of baseball to bring people together across differences, and we acknowledge the need to be vigilant in protecting our democracy from the miscarriages of justice represented by Manzanar.