[History Hounds] The Bearded Barnstormers: House of David Baseball with Brian Carroll, Israelite House of David

In the first half of the twentieth century, the Israelite House of David—a religious commune in Benton Harbor, Michigan—was known all over North America for its barnstorming professional baseball teams. The bearded Christian Israelites, billed as a novelty act and dubbed “Whiskerinos” by sports journalists, were expert ballplayers who took to the road just prior to World War I. They entertained generations of fans with their offbeat look, humorous antics, famous “pepper game,” and fast-paced style of play.

We'd like to thank the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM), which supports local history organizations, like us! They are continuing to make their History Hounds Lecture Series available online for free to members of HSM’s member organizations. Register for this remote presentation by 3:00pm the previous day. Click here to register. Select “A member of an Organizational Member of HSM” to enjoy this presentation at no charge.