LEWISTON — Edward J. Rielly, professor of English at St. Joseph’s College of Maine, will be the featured speaker at the Great Falls Forum lecture at noon Thursday in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library. Rielly will be presenting a talk titled, “Baseball: the Writer’s Sport.”

Baseball has been recognized for decades as having inspired a body of great literature, and Rielly has been delving into, writing about and teaching that rich heritage for the past 30 years.

His baseball works have ranged from the anthology, “Baseball and American Culture: Across the Diamond,” 2003, to his poetry, which has included the chapbook “Old Whitman Loved Baseball,” 2007. In addition to his baseball works, Rielly also published books and articles on subjects ranging from Native American history to the lyrics of songwriter Johnny Cash.

During his writing and teaching career, Reilly has been honored for both endeavors. He received numerous faculty and teaching awards, and on five occasions, most recently in 2007, was invited to lecture at the Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and Culture.

At his presentation, Rielly will discuss the literature surrounding baseball and sharing examples of his baseball poetry. In addition, he will answer the question, “Why has baseball been the one American sport which has generated such a rich library of writings?”

Admission is free to all Forum events, and no reservations are required. The presentation will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St.

Attendees are invited to bring brown-bag lunches, or to take advantage of the Forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s sandwiches or salads to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders may be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344.

The menu is available at www.guthriesplace.com. Coffee, tea and bottled water will be available at the library.

The Great Falls Forum is sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is downtown at 200 Lisbon St. at the corner of Pine Street.

More information on Thursday’s lecture or other events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.lplonline.org.