Joe Finn, a long time archivist for the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum at USA Lacrosse, was recently featured on an episode of The Maryland Curiosity Project, a show hosted by NPR’s WYPR affiliate.
Finn was a guest on a show titled, “Why is Lacrosse Such a Big Deal in Maryland.” Show host Aaron Henkin visited with Finn at USA Lacrosse headquarters.
You can hear me get schooled by an 8-year-old (and learn some cool stuff about lacrosse history) on the new episode of the @mcbpodcast from @WYPR881FM & @BaltimoreBanner https://t.co/SDNQDbnHtz pic.twitter.com/u3MvHMQuMk
— Aaron Henkin (@AaronHenkin) January 16, 2023
Finn explained how Maryland, and Baltimore in particular, fell into lacrosse accidentally — members of the Baltimore Athletic Club went to Newport, R.I., for a track meet. They saw lacrosse there and brought the sport back to the city. Johns Hopkins added the sport, followed by other schools and one of the big catalysts for the rise in popularity in the state was the local newspaper coverage provided to the sport. Area newspapers covered lacrosse in the same manner that other metro publications covered baseball and football.
Other guests on the podcast included Coppermine Lacrosse Club players Emma, Maya and Carla Stromberg, Coppermine coach Matt Stromberg, Native American Lacrosse Club coaches John and James Simermeyer and former U.S. women’s team player and retired coach Carol Samuels.
