Baseball Memories & Dreams

TheNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Cooperstown,New York, is an independent nonprofit educational institution, dedicated tofostering an appreciation of the historical development of baseball and itsimpact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpretingits collections for a global audience as well as honoring those who have madeoutstanding contributions to our National Pastime. Opening its doors for thefirst time on June 12, 1939, the Hall of Fame has stood as the definitiverepository of the game’s treasures and as a symbol of the most profoundindividual honor bestowed on an athlete. It is every fan’s “Field ofDreams”—with its stories, legends and magic shared from generation togeneration.

• ContentsForewordChapter 1: Baseball and American CultureGrowing Up with the GameJohn GrishamThe Rail Hitter? Abraham Lincoln & Baseball: Two Symbols of American IdentityChief Justice Frank J. WilliamsStruck Out but Never RetiredErnest Thayer’s timeless ode to the Mighty Casey turns 125 this yearRichard PioreckDiamonds & RailroadsThe advent of regional rail service made baseball as we know it possibleSteve BuckleyDiamonds to DollarsA.G. Spalding revolutionized the game on and off the fieldBill FrancisMail, Money, and the National PastimeBaseball has long been a symbol of America on stamps and coinsDavid MoriahBaseball’s Greatest SkitAbbott and Costello’s classic routine has become film royaltyTim WilesSeventy-Five Years on the Small ScreenHow television transformed baseball into a national obsessionCurt SmithCapping Things OffBaseball has added a staple to modern culture and fashionGeorge VecseyChapter 2: Artifact SpotlightA Paper Trail to HistoryScorecard from game three of 1951 NL playoff echoes Russ Hodges’ legendary callTim WilesTo Australia…and Beyond125 years ago, baseball went global during the Spalding tourTom ShieberClip and SaveBound volumes of the New York Clipper provide a look at baseball’s earliest daysCraig MuderThe Honus Is On YouCelebrating a hundred years of baseball’s most revered cardTim WilesDo You Know the Muffin Man?Historic book from Museum’s collection details the origin of one of baseball’s unique wordsJim GatesKing of the One Game WondersLarry Yount is as much a major leaguer as his more famous brother, even though he never played in a gameJohn OdellGiving the House a HomeDonation by former House of David player adds important piece to Museum collectionJim GatesChapter 3: Hall of FamersWinning RecordDerek Jeter’s talent, tenacity brought the Yankees back to the topTyler KepnerTale of a TigerAlan Trammell’s passion for the game paved the way to greatnessTom GageBoston Beckoned, Cooperstown CalledPedro Martínez’s journey to greatness featured tenacity, tough times, and a terrific armDan ShaughnessyRoad to CooperstownOzzie Smith followed his dreams to become one of baseball’s best players and ambassadorsHal BodleyJunior’s LeagueKen Griffey Jr.’s date with Cooperstown always seemed a foregone conclusionLarry StoneLittle Joe’s Big CareerHall of Famer Joe Morgan has devoted his life to the game—on and off the fieldHal BodleyPaige in HistoryIn 1971, Satchel Paige came to Cooperstown, opening the door for more legendsScott PitoniakThe First Face of BaseballChristy Mathewson changed the way the public perceived ballplayersLarry BruntChapter 4: The African American Baseball ExperienceHomers Defeat HateHank Aaron overcame bigotry in his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s recordTerence MoorePaper TrailBlack publications provide much of the known record of the Negro LeaguesScott PitoniakA Road to EqualityBlack barnstormers, led by Hall of Famer Satchel Paige, left remarkable legacyLarry TyeJackie’s Rookie SeasonIn 1947, Jack Roosevelt Robinson became the first winner of the BBWAA’s Rookie of the Year Award—and accomplished so much moreClaire SmithNo Challenge Too GreatHall of Famer Roy Campanella’s strength in the face of racism and injury served as inspirationNeil LanctotColor Between the LinesOn September 1, 1971, the Pirates put forth baseball’s first all-Black lineupClaire SmithChapter 5: Legendary PerformancesLet’s Play 2,632Cal Ripken Jr.’s legendary durability had family rootsTim KurkjianStill A MiracleThe Amazin’ Mets wrote what may be baseball’s most incredible storyWayne CoffeyMore than an ‘Average’ SeasonSeventy years after Ted Williams’ feat, baseball awaits its next .400 hitterCraig MuderMound of EffortFifty years ago, Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn pitched a game for the agesJim KaplanThe Great Home Run RaceFifty years have passed since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle chased the BabeScott PitoniakMake His a DoubleSeventy-five years ago, Johnny Vander Meer set what may be an unbreakable recordBill FrancisThe Sunday ManagerBurt Shotton faced challenges that no skipper ever had while leading the Dodgers to the 1947 NL pennantSteve WulfThe Road StockingsThe 1869 trips by the Cincinnati baseball team made the game famous throughout the United StatesJohn ErardiChapter 6: Latino LegacyRoberto Clemente: The Father of Puerto Rican BaseballLuis R. MayoralPrimero PlayerThe majors’ Latin American roots reach back 144 years to Esteban BellánJim GatesBesting the BambinoHall of Famer Cristóbal Torriente’s story revisited through historic image of Babe Ruth in Museum’s collectionAlex CoffeyCuban Baseball Legacy Rich in American HeritageAdrian BurgosA Cuban RevolutionHall of Famer Martín Dihigo left a legacy that still impacts the National PastimeDanny TorresKings of the WorldIn 1959, Havana-based triple-A team ruled minor league baseballDavid KrellPirates of the CaribbeanThe 1971 Bucs utilized a diverse lineup to help secure a World Series crownDanny TorresChapter 7: Baseball Goes to WarBattling on the DiamondAs the sesquicentennial observance begins, we look back at baseball during the Civil WarSteve LightEvers Goes to FranceKept from combat by injury, Johnny Evers still served his country in The Great WarJim LeekeRemarkable CharacterSixty-four years ago, an Indians/A’s matchup demonstrated the strength of baseball—and of the men who played the gamePaul DicksonThe Show Must Go OnSeventy-fifth anniversary of Green Light Letter shines a light on baseball’s role in World War IIAlex CoffeyJackie’s BattleAs a member of the US Army, Jackie Robinson fought for equality before he reached Ebbets FieldClaire SmithReturn PolicyBig leaguers showed in 1945 that their baseball skills would survive their time at warPhil RogersChapter 8: Women in BaseballSaluting the Girls of SummerWomen have starred on the diamond and contributed to the game for more than 150 yearsDebra Shattuck BurtonWoman’s WorldHall of Famer Effa Manley blazed a trail for female executives in baseballScott PitoniakA Sacrifice of Their OwnAAGPBL players faced wartime hardships just like their MLB counterpartsCarroll Rogers WaltonEqual chanceWomen’s barnstormers blazed a trail for future playersTim WilesSecond to NoneToni Stone broke barriers as the first woman to play in the Negro LeaguesCarroll Rogers WaltonDolly White: Dreaming of the DiamondTim WilesChapter 9: In Their Own WordsRookie RecallingsFrom your first year in the big leagues all the way to being a Hall of Famer, you learn a lotJohnny BenchFamily ServiceTrevor Hoffman recalls his father’s love of country and baseballTrevor HoffmanRight at HomeFor one Red Sox broadcaster, true love is a day at Fenway ParkJoe CastiglioneExpressly AmazingNolan Ryan launched his Hall of Fame career by helping the 1969 Mets win the World SeriesNolan RyanSharing Words of WisdomFrick award winner Bob Wolff recounts lessons learned from a life spent in broadcastingBob WolffCase ClosedJoe Torre recalls what made Mariano Rivera the game’s most feared relief pitcherJoe TorreOur Rite of SpringDespite Many Changes, Spring Training Remains Baseball’s Proving GroundPeter GammonsCooperstown’s Elephant EarWade Boggs used one glove for his first fifteen seasons in the big leaguesWade BoggsHouston StrongAs Jeff Bagwell’s induction approaches, an Astros teammate reflects on what it means to be a Hall of FamerCraig BiggioHitting the MarkFor this major leaguer, trips to Cooperstown renew a love of the gameIchiro SuzukiAcknowledgementsAbout the Hall