American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad of Manassas, Va., top photo, heralds the long relationship between the National Baseball Hall of Fame and American Legion Baseball in kicking off at two-day commemoration of the Legion’s 100th anniversary this morning at 25 Main St. Hall of Famer Lee Smith, left, who will be inducted July 21, delivered remarks. Among Legion dignitaries were New York Department Commander Gary Schacher, right, and Regional Commander Paul I. Spedaliere, Lebanon, Conn., behind Reistad. Inset, Schacher presents a souvenir bat from Cooperstown Bat Co. to Scott Mondore, the Hall’s director of marketing and an Army vet, who helped organized this weekend’s activities. Hall VP/Communications Jon Shostakovsky noted that 81 Hall of Famers participated in Legion Baseball. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
LAURENS – Caitlin Ogden, the Grant and Development Specialist at the Baseball Hall of Fame, has announced her candidacy for District Three on the Otsego County Board of Representatives.
Ogden holds a Masters in Arts in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program. Ogden moved to upstate New York in 2006 with her horse in pursuit of a rural small town life. She has since spent her career working in the nonprofit sector.
COOPERSTOWN – Hall of Famer Wade Boggs knows about winning, and is hoping some of his good-luck dust will rub off on CCS Hawkeye Boys Varsity Basketball Coach John Lambert, his pal.
“Congrats to my golf partner in Cooperstown @JohnLambert2020 on the championship. good luck Judge in States,” the Red Sox hitter and 2004 Inductee tweeted at 1:17 p.m. today.
Lambert’s Hawkeye team (as well as the CCS girls) is headed to the state quarter finals in Binghamton this Sunday. The coach is also Otsego County judge.
Third graders at Cooperstown Elementary School presented their research on civil rights pioneers who helped pave the way for Jackie Robinson to break baseball’s color barrier during a school-wide assembly Thursday. The research, conducted in partnership with the Baseball Hall of Fame, also utilized the school’s monthly theme, “kindness,” which Pee Wee Reese showed to Robinson. From back left, Bruce Markusen, Beckett Grady, Henry Ayers, Abby Congdon, Abby Cole, Carlotta Falso, Dehjlah Harrington, Kinnley Wightman. In front,Sylverline Amachi, Siri Shanker, Peter Loenguth, Frank Pasek, JJ Wirchansky, Parker McManus, Ms. Szwejbka.
COOPERSTOWN – In all, six business, including the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Cooperstown Farmers Market and Stagecoach Coffee were selected from 25 finalists to be the 2019 inductees into the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Chamber Business Hall of Fame.
Also named to the Hall of Fame were Pathfinder Village, The Cooperstown Bat Company and the Cooperstown Fire Department.
COOPERSTOWN – Jeff Idelson will retire as Baseball Hall of Fame president after the July 21 induction, board Chairman Jane Forbes Clark announced a few minutes ago.
“I am heartbroken for the Museum and its staff, but thrilled for Jeff,” Clark said. “Over his 11-year tenure as President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Jeff’s leadership and passion have guided this institution to great successes. We could not be more thankful for his commitment to the Hall of Fame over the last quarter-century.”
Standing in front of Minnesota Twins infielder Rod Carew’s plaque, Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera reflected on the legacy of the first Panamanian elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” he said. “He made it possible for me to follow him.” Rivera, the first player elected to the Hall of Fame with 100 percent of the votes on the ballot, toured the Hall this morning as part of his pre-induction initiation, signing the spot where his plaque will be hung during the July 21 induction and posing with a fan, at right. “If you told me when I got on a plane to the United States at age 20 to play baseball, that after playing 19 years I would be sitting here, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said. “It’s freezing outside, but being here warms my heart.” (Patrick Wager, AllOTSEGO.com)
Hitter and right-fielder Harold Baines, who excelled with the Chicago White Sox and other Midwest teams during a 21-year career, breaks into a smile a few minutes ago as he’s shown the spot in the Hall of Plaques where his plaque will hang after his July 21 induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sharing in his joy are, from left, Erik Strohl, vice president/Exhibitions & Collections; Jon Shestakofsky, vice president/ Communications & Education, and the Hall’s official photographer, Milo V. Stewart Jr. Rear left is Bill Francis, a Hall researcher. Inset, Baines signs the spot where his plaque will be hung. Baines is one of six players in the Class of 2019, and the first to go through the traditional initiation. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
The Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2019, announced last evening, are answering questions at a live press right now that may be viewed at mlb.com. From right are Jane Forbes Clark, Hall board chairman; the inductees, and Hall President Jeff Idelson. Emceeing is Jon Shestakovsky, vice president/communications.
COOPERSTOWN – Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson just announced Edgar Martinez, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera have been elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America as the Class of 2019 and will be inducted into the Hall at the end of July.
Rivera went in with 100 percent support, the first inductee ever to get a unanimous vote.
COOPERSTOWN – This year’s inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday the 22nd), by Hall President Jeff Idelson. It will also be simulcast on MLB.com
The 2019 Baseball Writers’ Association of American balloting features 35 players, including 20 new candidates and 15 returnees. Any candidate who receives votes on at least 75 percent of all ballots cast will be inducted this summer.
Former AAGPBL players Betty Trezza (left) and Ernestine Petras (right) with “League of Their Own” Director, Penny Marshall. BL-4767-97 (National Baseball Hall of Fame photo)
In this week’s “Morning Headlines” on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, Jim Kevlin, editor/publisher of www.AllOTSEGO.com (and Hometown Oneonta & the Freeman’s Journal), reports how the development of the 1988 “Women in Baseball” exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown led Penny Marshall, who died Monday, to create the hit movie, “A League of Their Own.”
Penny Marshall last visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, posing next to the “A League of their Own” case. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame)
COOPERSTOWN – Penny Marshall, who directed the baseball classic “A League of Their Own” after taking inspiration from as Baseball Hall of Fame exhibit, died Monday night in her Hollywood Hills home due to complications from diabetes, said Michelle Bega, a spokeswoman for the family.
Laura Moellering, Cooperstown, recalled that her mother, Rita Meyer, a former shortstop for the Peoria Redwings with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, met Marshall when, in 1988, she attended the 50th reunion and unveiling of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Women in Baseball” display.
COOPERSTOWN – Yankees owner and manager George Steinbrenner received fewer than five votes from the 16 member Today’s Game committee, denying him a chance to be enshrined at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, relief pitcher Lee Smith and White Sox designated hitter Harold Baines will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Today’s Game ballot.
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – Give the Gift of Christmas this holiday season. Adopt a family in need. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ to learn how.
CANDLELIGHT EVENING – 3 – 7 p.m. Experience magic of Christmas season with a candlelit museum covered in Christmas greenery, horse-drawn sleighs, carolers, bonfires, wassail, theater performances, more. Tickets available at door. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/Candlelight-Evening
American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad of Manassas, Va., top photo, heralds the long relationship between the National Baseball Hall of Fame and American Legion Baseball in kicking off at two-day commemoration of the Legion’s 100th anniversary this morning at 25 Main St. Hall of Famer Lee Smith, left, who will be inducted July 21, delivered remarks. Among Legion dignitaries were New York Department Commander Gary Schacher, right, and Regional Commander Paul I. Spedaliere, Lebanon, Conn., behind Reistad. Inset, Schacher presents a souvenir bat from Cooperstown Bat Co. to Scott Mondore, the Hall’s director of marketing and an Army vet, who helped organized this weekend’s activities. Hall VP/Communications Jon Shostakovsky noted that 81 Hall of Famers participated in Legion Baseball. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
