Advertisement

Jeff Idelson

///

Cooperstown Community Says Farewell to One of Its Own

Four-time Academy Award-winning actor Katherine Hepburn famously said, “If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun.” In many ways, longtime Cooperstown resident Bob Faller, who passed away on July 12, channeled the mantra of Hollywood’s leading lady. He was also renowned for his strong personality, independence and outspokenness, much like the talented screen actress.…

/

‘Grassroots Baseball: Route 66’ Authors To Hold Book Signing At Hall Of Fame

‘Grassroots Baseball: Route 66’ Authors To Hold Book Signing At Hall Of Fame Baseball fans are invited for a book signing of ‘Grassroots Baseball: Route 66’ with renowned baseball photographer photographer and co-founder of the Grassroots Baseball project Jean Fruth, former president of the Baseball Hall of Fame Jeff Idelson, and Hall of Famer/22-year MLB player Jim Thome. The signing will take place from 2 – 3 p.m. on Friday, July 22 in the Atrium at the Baseball Hall of…

////

Rawitch didn’t think path would lead to Cooperstown

Rawitch didn’t think path would lead to Cooperstown By Charlie Vascellaro • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com The first thing that came to mind upon hearing that 45-year-old Josh Rawitch was hired as the new president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame (he was 44 when it was announced) is how young he seems to be. Like his predecessor (once removed) and interim President Jeff Idelson, who was 43 when he first ascended to the position in 2008, Rawitch is a…

////

Michaels, Montgomery among Hall Award winners

Michaels, Montgomery among Hall Award winners By GREG KLEIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com SPRINGFIELD — The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum honored five men for their contributions to the game Saturday, July 24, in a ceremony held at The Glimmerglass Festival and aired Sunday, July 25, on the MLB Network and on social media. The Hall honored 2021 Ford C. Frick Award winner Al Michaels; 2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner Ken Harrelson; 2021 BBWAA Career Excellence Award…

////

Hall: Wednesday induction was best option

Hall: Wednesday induction was best option By GREG KLEIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN — A National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum official said the rescheduling of Induction Weekend to a Wednesday in September came down to one simple factor: the calendar. “Looking at the calendar, we just had a very limited amount of options,” Jon Shestakofsky, vice president of communications and education, told Iron String Media, Friday, June 11. The exclusive interview took place two days after the…

////

Idelson aims for smooth Hall transition, induction

Idelson aims for smooth Hall transition, induction By GREG KLEIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will have an encore from its former leader, as Jeff Idelson returned May 15, as interim president. Idelson, who left the Hall in 2019, after 25 years, including more than 12 as president, replaced Tim Mead, his hand-picked successor. Mead left mid-May, saying the isolation from his family in Southern California during the coronavirus pandemic made him unable…

////

WHAT IF? Hosting MLB Event In Plaque Gallery Gets Wheels Turning

EDITORIAL WHAT IF? Hosting MLB Event In Plaque Gallery Gets Wheels Turning The idea was to bring fans to Cooperstown. What about taking Cooperstown to the fans? In the Age of COVID, the second sentence is a more intriguing one. And it played out this week with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s annual announcement of the Induction Class of 2021. While it turned out there was no one to announce this year, the MLB Network spent the afternoon transmitting…

///

‘Grassroots’ Clinics Lure Youngsters Back To Baseball

JEFF IDELSON OBSERVES: ‘Grassroots’ Clinics Lure Youngsters Back To Baseball By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – During one of his clinics in Chicago, Grassroots Baseball co-founder Jeff Idelson got to see first-hand how baseball can change a life. “We were at the Union League Boys & Girls Club in Chicago and Goose Gossage was playing catch with a young boy,” he said. “This kid had never put a glove on, and afterwards, his older brother came over…

///

Idelson’s New Mission: Bring Kids To Baseball

Idelson’s New Mission Bring Kids Back To Baseball By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN Once upon a time, retired Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was a center fielder for the Newton Central Little League. And though he retired from baseball at age 12, he never forgot the importance of the field. Since stepping down as Hall of Fame president, Idelson co-founded Grassroots Baseball, a program aimed at getting 21st Century youngsters into the game with talks,…

/

Helfer, Stark and Idelson Honored At HOF Awards

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2019 Jeff Idelson Honored, With Spink, Frick Prize Winners Outgoing Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson, left; Jayson Stark, recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, and Idelson’s successor, Tim Mead, wave from the stage at the conclusion of the ninth annual Hall Of Fame Awards presentation at Doubleday Field this afternoon.  Between Stark and Mead is Mariano Rivera, the Yankee star pitcher, one of six players being inducted tomorrow. Idelson, who is seen embracing Jane…

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.