O/T-- What's your favorite thing in "The Hall"?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Thanks for the clarification. I was going on memory from over 20 years ago. I can't believe its still there! I think the Babe statue is gone, no?

If this is the Babe Ruth statue you are thinking of, it was on display when I was there in December of 2011:



As for the camera question, flash photography was allowed...which I found unusual for a museum.

And, for the person who commented that you have the place to yourself during the winter, this is certainly true. For me, that added to the appeal.

Best Regards,

Eric

[Moonlight Graham]

I love everything about the museum. It really connects me with my baseball cards. I think it's really cool to see a display and know that I have a card or two of that particular person. Heck, occassionally I'll even bring some of my cards with me to the Hall just so I can say they were there too. That's something a 10 year old would do but I'm 45! And of course when I'm there, I get the fever and go back to the hotel and start shopping for baseball cards after hitting all the local shops. Of course that's after buying Yankees apparel for my 2 year old boy-and I MAKE my wife wear yankees stuff too

Steve, you're going to have a great time. Like you, I'm from Ohio, and the drive there is very enjoyable and hassle free.

Joe

[albrshbr]

Lots of great responses, but I tend to like some of the more oddball displays. The uniforms made for just for the first games played under lights (made of silk?), the display of stadium give-aways, the evolution of bats and balls, and the no-hitter displays jump out to me. The whole museum is great! Enjoy your trip.

[tedzan]

The privilege of talking with the HOFer's and many well-known BB players is my most enjoyable experience in Cooperstown.
Too many to list here, but some of my most memorable are......

Ted Williams
Yogi Berra and his wife Carmen
Johnny Mize
Don Larsen
Jim Bunning
Carl Yastrzemski
Ernie Banks
Frank Howard
Bill White
Robin Roberts
Reggie Jackson
Roger Clemens

I have been going up to Cooperstown every HOF weekend since the early 1980's; and, setting up at the Cooperstown BB
card show.


TED Z

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by tedzan

The privilege of talking with the HOFer's and many well-known BB players is my most enjoyable experience in Cooperstown.
Too many to list here, but some of my most memorable are......

Ted Williams
Yogi Berra and his wife Carmen
Johnny Mize
Don Larsen
Jim Bunning
Carl Yastrzemski
Ernie Banks
Frank Howard
Bill White
Robin Roberts
Reggie Jackson
Roger Clemens

I have been going up to Cooperstown every HOF weekend since the early 1980's; and, setting up at the Cooperstown BB
card show.


TED Z

Ted- Great story especially about Johnny Mize. He was a cousin of my father, and I know the family was confused as to how long it took for him to finally make the Hall....He had 6 games that he hit 3 homeruns in, pretty sure it's still a record....

[sdkammeyer]

Originally Posted by Moonlight Graham

Heck, occassionally I'll even bring some of my cards with me to the Hall just so I can say they were there too.

At least I know I'm not alone
I already thought about taking a few with me. A Cobb for sure.

I guess, in a strange way ..... to me ....... it's like "taking them home" for a visit.

Nobody has mentioned a Ty Cobb display in this thread ..... but I'm sure there is one and I plan to spend some serious time there.

[sdkammeyer]

Originally Posted by Eric72

As for the camera question, flash photography was allowed...which I found unusual for a museum.

Great!
Thank you very much.
The reason I asked (over and over ) is because photography is a second hobby of mine. A much cheaper one too

I'm definitely looking forward to sharing my pics from The Hall with all of you.

[dealme]

Loved reading these replies as I was back in Cooperstown for my third time this past summer. If you happen to be in the Hall in the afternoon (I want to say it was around 3:00 PM...maybe they do it at other times), a couple of museum workers will bring some items out from the Hall's collection to allow for closer inspection. I was there with my girlfriend a week or so after Memorial Day, so this particular showing had a military theme. They showed Hank Greenberg's military ID, Charlie Gehringer's military dress hat, and the kicker for me as a Red Sox fan, Ted William's bat from the 1957 All Star game. You aren't allowed to touch, but it's still a great chance to see some incredible items up close.

They made announcements about every 10 minutes starting about a half hour prior to the presentation. I was there mid-week, so I don't know if the fact that there wasn't a huge crowd helped. One thing I found amazing was that the gentleman giving the presentation noted that at any given time, only about 15% of the Hall's memorabilia is on display. Incredible. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your trip. As a beer lover, I would also second the earlier recommendation to check out Ommegang Brewery. It's maybe 8 or 10 miles southeast of town, and well worth the trip.

Mark

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by Eric72

If this is the Babe Ruth statue you are thinking of, it was on display when I was there in December of 2011:



As for the camera question, flash photography was allowed...which I found unusual for a museum.

And, for the person who commented that you have the place to yourself during the winter, this is certainly true. For me, that added to the appeal.

Best Regards,

Eric

That's it! I can't find my photo, but I'm pretty sure at the time it was at the entrance of an exhibit. A much darker location. I just remember being amazed. Thanks for posting that.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by Deertick

That's it! I can't find my photo, but I'm pretty sure at the time it was at the entrance of an exhibit. A much darker location. I just remember being amazed. Thanks for posting that.

When I was last there in May 2010 the Ruth statue was opposite a Ted Williams statue made the same way...cool stuff

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I loved my visit to to the Hall of Fame so much I became a real sucker for any books that offered photos of the collections!

Most were so-so but a couple of year's ago the best of all came from an unlikely source, Bert Sugar. I usually found of his stuff to be run of the mill, common phots etc. but not his last book. BERT SUGAR'S BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BOOK. It gives a first class tour of the Hall with wonderful photos of the exhibits.

Also the DVD of the television series Great Museums is wonderful. Their tour can also be seen on YouTube. Just search for Great Museums Home Base the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

If the piece near the end where the museum staff finds the note under a display doesn't choke you up then you are heartless.

[sdkammeyer]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Also the DVD of the television series Great Museums is wonderful. Their tour can also be seen on YouTube. Just search for Great Museums Home Base the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

If the piece near the end where the museum staff finds the note under a display doesn't choke you up then you are heartless.

Thanks for letting me know about this. I watched it last night. Good Stuff.
And..... you are right .... the part about the letter found under a display is pretty dang touching.

[sdkammeyer]

well, I definitely won't be going on induction weekend this year

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by sdkammeyer

well, I definitely won't be going on induction weekend this year

Actually this year would be a great year to go for fans of the old players. Not only is Deacon White going in about 70 years too late, but they will also have a formal ceremony for the entire 1945 class(plus Hornsby and Gehrig) If you collect pre-war cards, the 1945 class is some heavy-hitters!

Bresnahan, Brouthers, Clarke, Jimmy Collins, Delahanty, Jennings, O'Rourke, Duffy, Wilbert Robinson, King Kelly!

I'm thinking about going now! No one elected this year by the BBWAA might the best thing for people from this board. The weekend is going to be loaded with pre-WWI players being honored

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

When I was last there in May 2010 the Ruth statue was opposite a Ted Williams statue made the same way...cool stuff

Steven,

They were both in the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery, if I am not mistaken. Here is a picture of The Bambino and Teddy Ballgame, side-by-side:



Best Regards,

Eric

[brob28]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Steven,

They were both in the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery, if I am not mistaken. Here is a picture of The Bambino and Teddy Ballgame, side-by-side:



Best Regards,

Eric

I was just there in September and both statues are still in the hall. Incredible detail right down to wiskers on Ted's face. I spent two days with my brother in law (both of our first trip) and it was absoultly awesome. There are so many incredible things to mention about the hall. There is an awesome picture of Clemente tipping his hat to the crowd while walking to his spot in the outfield, for some reason it really spoke to me.

I also watched a game a doubleday field which is a great place to watch a game. While watching I noticed one team's jersey's read "The Aparicios" (spelling might be off). Anyway, I learned it was a team put together by Luis Aparicio's son. One of the players told me you can play on the field for about $450 (Umpire included) just need to schedule months in advance.

Cooperstown cafe is a must for breakfast.

You'll have a blast, enjoy!

[rainier2004]

Im surprised at the little mention of the library. Next time I go I think I want to spend some serious time in there reading the actual newspapers from the eras. Its amazing how the stories change over time and society/culture can change the story. Magical place.