Hall of Fame’s Yesteryears Recalled

Hall of Fame's Yesteryears Recalled

Laughter erupted when Catherine Walker recalled, a little disparagingly, the "red coats" Hall staffers used to wear. Be careful, they were my idea, said former Hall director Howard Talbot, second from left. The two, both of whom attended the 1930 Induction, joined Homer Osterhoudt, center, at a panel discuss in the Hall of Fame's BullpenTheater at 1 p.m. today, part of the 75th anniversary festivities. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com) — Laughter erupted when Catherine Walker recalled, a little disparagingly, the "red coats" National Baseball Hall of Fame staffers used to wear. Be careful, they were my idea, said former Hall director Howard Talbot, second from left. The two, both of whom attended the 1939 Induction, joined Homer Osterhoudt, center, at a panel to discuss Inductions then and now in the Hall's Bullpen Theater at 1 p.m. today, part of the 75th anniversary festivities. At left is emcee Bruce Markusen; at right, retired Hall curator Ted Spencer (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)

By JIM KEVLIN • www.allotsego.com

Merritt Harvey of Hartwick hold up a photo of himself, then 5, with his mom and sisters in front of 22 Main on June 12, 1939, the first Induction day. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)

COOPERSTOWN – Yesterday was today's topic, and things have changed.

"I shouldn't say this," said Ted Spencer, the National Baseball Hall of Fame's retired curator, "but my first year here" – 1982 – "I tried everything on."

How things have become more formal and security-conscious over the years was one theme that emerged from a panel Spencer rounded out this afternoon in the Hall's Bullpen Theater. He joined three attendees at the original 1939 Induction: Homer Osterhoudt, Howard Talbot and Catherine Walker.

Osterhoudt, then 21, and later a 30-year mail carrier in the village, had worked on the construction crew of the just-completed Hall. Talbot, 14, was home from Manlius Military Academy. Walker, then 8 and later the mother of five, was on her father's hand most of June 12, 1939.

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