NATCHEZ — Approximately 45 years ago, South Natchez Adams High School pitcher Guy Hollingsworth threw a perfect game, after throwing a no-hitter earlier in the same season.

That moment, and other local sports triumphs, will be immortalized on May 5 at the grand opening of the Historic Natchez Foundation’s exhibit, “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shaped America”.

“Hollingsworth threw a perfect game in high school,” HNF Executive Director Mimi Miller said. “He pitched a ball game in Natchez that nobody has ever gotten over.”

On March 8, 1975, Hollingsworth faced Tylertown and struck out 20 of the 21 batters he faced. Hollingsworth went on to pitch at LSU and the San Diego Padres drafted the lefty in the 16th round.

The Historic Natchez Foundation’s exhibit, in cooperation with the Mississippi Humanities Council, intends to capture stories that unfolded on neighborhood fields, in amateur games and professional pitches small towns. It is part of the Museum on Main Street program — a national, state and local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations.

The exhibit is affiliated with The Smithsonian Institute, and Miller said various museums around the state applied to bring the exhibit to their respective towns.

Miller said Natchez seemed to be a logical selection for the exhibit because of the timing of the event.

“They talk about what we’ll do in conjunction, how many people are likely to see it,” Miller said. “We have a great exhibit hall and our space played a roll. Our track record is a factor and the tricentennial is an added impetus.”

Miller said the city of Natchez has also contributed to the history of baseball, in particular.

Natchez was also home to a professional baseball team, the Natchez Indians and the local historic college contributed a blip on baseball’s historical timeline.

“Baseball was introduced in 1871. The earliest known photo was at Jefferson College in 1880.”

The exhibit’s grand opening is open to the public, free of charge. The grand opening is on May 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Natchez Foundation.

The exhibit’s six-week run ends on June 26.