A sold-out crowd gathered Thursday evening at Piedmont University’s Mason Scharfenstein Museum of Art for a special screening of Stalking the Big Cat, a documentary exploring the life and legacy of Hall of Fame baseball legend Johnny Mize.
The film, produced by Hal Jacobs, brought to life the remarkable journey of the Demorest native, known across Major League Baseball as “The Big Cat” for his powerful swing and consistent hitting.
But beyond Mize’s well-documented achievements on the field, the documentary also shed light on lesser-known chapters of baseball history—particularly the connections between Major League players and Negro League stars during a time of segregation.
One of the figures featured in the film is Red Moore, a standout first baseman in the Negro Leagues. His inclusion provided a meaningful parallel to Mize, as both men played the same position during an era when the sport remained divided along racial lines.
The film explored how Mize and other Major League players would occasionally compete in exhibition games against Negro League teams—though notably not in the segregated South. Instead, these matchups took place in smaller Midwestern towns, offering rare glimpses of integrated competition before it was formally allowed.
Mize’s exposure to more diverse competition extended beyond those exhibitions. The documentary highlighted his time playing baseball in Cuba and other Latin American countries, where he shared the field with players of color years before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
Those experiences added important context to Mize’s career, illustrating how the game itself was already more interconnected than official league structures at the time might suggest.
The screening also featured guest speakers and community members who shared stories, insights and memorabilia connected to Mize, creating an atmosphere that blended history, storytelling and local pride.
For those who missed the sold-out showing, there will be another opportunity to see the film. Stalking the Big Cat is scheduled to air on Georgia Public Broadcasting on May 4th, bringing the story of one of Habersham County’s most celebrated figures to a statewide audience.
For many in attendance, the evening was more than just a film screening—it was a chance to revisit the legacy of one of Habersham County’s most notable figures while gaining a deeper understanding of the broader history of the game he helped define.
