Published September 6, 2013

The Story of World Bank President Eugene Black’s Annual Baseball Outings with World Bank Staff

Discover the story of World Bank President Eugene Black's annual baseball outings with World Bank staff, which began in 1950 and continued through at least 1962. Learn more about this early example of "baseball diplomacy" and see photos of the Washington Senators greeting the World Bank staff.

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From the summer 1962 copy of the International Bank Notes (via World Bank Archives pages, PDF), we hear the story of World Bank President Eugene Black (from 1949-1963) arranging World Bank staff to take in Washington Senators baseball. According to the article, this annual event began in 1950 and continued through at least 1962. Early “baseball diplomacy”?