8/29/25

South Bend: Built by Baseball | Feature Documentary

Baseball laid the foundation for South Bend's growth. In the early 20th century, Black Studebaker employees formed the Foundry Giants, despite facing long shifts and segregation. The women of the South Bend Blue Sox broke barriers and inspired others to chase their dreams. Migrant farmworkers created a Mexican-American league that fostered decades of community connection and organizing. Today, investment in the South Bend Cubs fuels both the game and downtown's revitalization. Across generations, baseball has shaped the city - South Bend was, and remains, "Built by Baseball.

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Foundry Field

05:20 Industrial Leagues and the Foundry Giants

12:44 Uncle Bill's Colored Girl's Softball Team

18:33 South Bend Blue Sox

29:21 Mexican-American Baseball League

38:54 Foundry Field Revisited - Community Heritage

43:18 South Bend's Minor League Franchise

55:05 Credits

South Bend: Built by Baseball Screening Toolkit

Next

Echoes of the Great Migration - Family Stories of Resilience