When the Work or Fight Order Brought 'The Babe,' 'Shoeless Joe,' and 'The Rajah' to Play in Reading
Schedule
Thu, 16 Apr, 2026 at 06:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
940 Centre Ave, Reading, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19601 | Reading, PA
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Special Evening Program: When the ‘Work or Fight’ Order Brought ‘The Babe,’ ‘Shoeless Joe,’ and ‘The Rajah’ to Play in Reading Before More Than 10,000 FansThursday, April 16, 2026 • 6:00 PM
Step back to September 29, 1918, when more than 10,000 fans—the largest baseball crowd in Reading history—packed Lauers Park to witness an unforgettable game featuring baseball legends Babe Ruth, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Rogers “The Rajah” Hornsby, Lefty Williams, and other major leaguers. The teams, sponsored by Reading Steel Castings (the “Steelies”) and Harlan Shipbuilding Company (the “Harlans”), squared off in a thrilling 10-inning game that included a Shoeless Joe home run, several innings pitched by Babe Ruth, and even a triple play, with the Steelies emerging victorious 6–5.
What brought this star-studded matchup about was the “Work or Fight” Order issued by the U.S. War Department during World War I, which required men in non-essential jobs to enlist, become draft-eligible, or work in war-related industries. Many baseball players found employment with defense contractors, including playing for company-sponsored teams, leading to this historic matchup in Reading.
Historian Brian Engelhardt will explore not only the September 29th game but also the broader impact of the “Work or Fight” Order on the Reading and Berks County community, highlighting the local baseball scene, area players, and other defense contractors in the region.
Cost: $5 for BHC Members • $10 for Non-Members
Location: Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, PA
Parking: Off-street parking is available in the BHC lot at 160 Spring Street, Reading, PA 19601
~About the Speaker~
Brian C. Engelhardt is a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, where he lives with his wife Suzanne. They have three daughters and four grandsons. A graduate of Dickinson College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Brian practiced commercial law for over 40 years before retiring in 2017. Since then, he has served as an adjunct professor at Albright College, teaching Business Law and Sports Law.
A longtime Trustee and Ambassador for the Berks History Center, Brian presents on local historical topics ranging from political controversies and historical figures to early Berks County settler-Native American relations and local baseball history. He contributes regularly to The Historical Review Berks County and to publications of the Society for American Baseball Research.
Brian is the author of Reading’s Big League Exhibition Games (available in the BHC gift shop), donating all royalties to the BHC and Baseballtown Charities. His presentations are known for engaging audiences—even those who wouldn’t normally describe themselves as “baseball fans.”
For more information and to register, please visit: https://berkshistory.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F29268
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Where is it happening?
940 Centre Ave, Reading, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19601Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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