SUMMER CONCERT – 7 p.m. Enjoy musical performance by Jaybird Street Trio. Bandstand near Hodges Pond, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-7997 or visit oneonta.ny.us/departments/parks-and-recreation/summer-concert-series/
The 2019 inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame – from left, Harold Baines, Lee Smith, Edgar Martinez, Michael Mussina, Mariano Rivera, and Brandy Halladay, accepting the plaque posthumously on behalf of her husband Roy Halladay – pose for a group photo on the stage following their Induction ceremony earlier today in the field next to the Clark Sports Center. If your eyes were good, you may have even spotted Laurentino Cortizo, right, the President of Panama, who was in the crowd with fellow Panamanians to witness and celebrate their countryman Rivera’s induction. The Hall announced this evening that 55,000 fans attended the ceremony, making it the second-largest, after the Cal Ripken Jr./Tony Gwynn weekend in 2007. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
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 Forbes Clark, at right, was honored for his 25 years of service at the Baseball Hall of Fame, the past 11 as president. Stark, who was inducted alongside Al Helfer, who posthumously received the Ford C. Frick Award, was all smiles as he addressed the crowd. “I always wanted to be a baseball writer. How many people get to be what they dreamed of being? To be elected by you is as cool as it gets. All I ever wanted since I was a kid was to be one of you.” (Ian Austin/ AllOTSEGO.com)
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION – 1:30 p.m. Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Roy Halladay, Harold Baines and Lee Smith will be inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame. Stake out your spot the lawn early. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. Info, 607-547 2800 www.clarksportscenter.com/events/2019-baseball-hall-fame-induction-ceremony/
BASEBALL AUTHOR – 1 p.m. Reading by Jane Leavy, author “The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created.” Discuss baseball history, ask questions, get your copy signed. Included with Museum admission. Grandstand Theater, Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. 607-547-7200 or visit baseballhall.org/events
P.J. Carter, left, son of famed Expo and Met Gary Carter, gives his dad’s best wishes to Tommy Lasorda, famed two-decade manager of the L.A. Dodgers, who is signing autographs today on Main Street, Cooperstown. Behind Lasorda is another great, Lou Pinella, who finished up his 16-year playing career as a Yankee. Crowds are bigger than usual for a first day of Induction Weekend, said Vinnie Russo, proprietor of Mickey’s Place who can compare hour-by-hour records from past years, and are only going to grow tomorrow as Induction Weekend gets underway in earnest. Inset, part of the Hall of Fame’s brain trust – from left, Vice Presidents Ken Meifert, sponsorship & development; Doug Jones, finance & administration, and Sean Gahagan sponsorship & development – slipped out for a quick hot-dog lunch in front of Danny’s Place. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
AUTHOR SERIES – 1 p.m., Scott Pitoniak discusses his new book, “Let’s Go Yankees!” Baseball Hall of Fame, 25 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, www.baseballhall.org, 607-547-7200
AUTHOR SERIES – 1 p.m. Wayne Coffey discusses his new book, “They Said It Couldn’t Be Done: The ’69 Mets, New York City, and the Most Astounding Season in Baseball History” in the Bullpen Theatre. Baseball Hall of Fame, 25 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, www.baseballhall.org/, 607-547-7200.
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to SUMMER DREAMS
COOPERSTOWN – In looking through the Baseball Hall of Fame’s 200,000 baseball cards, curator John Odell happened upon his childhood favorite.
“I had a 1968 card for Cookie Rojas, who played second base for the Phillies,” he said. “He wore glasses and his name was ‘Cookie’ – I thought that was the funniest thing in the world. All the Mickey Mantles and Frank Robinsons we have don’t impress me as much as that one card.”
Rojas’ card – alongside 2,500 others – are now part of the newly unveiled “Shoebox Treasures” baseball card exhibit, which opened Saturday, May 25 as part of the Hall of Fame Classic Weekend.
“We had an exhibit for a long time, but about 10 years ago, it was taken down for renovations,” he said. “Over the years, people have been writing to us telling us they miss it, so this is in response to our visitors.”
The earliest card in their collection dates back to 1872, a trade card for Mutual of New York. “These 3×5 trade cards were usually to promote a local store,” he said.
Such cards also set up a debate among collectors. “Every collector defines a baseball card,” he said. “We have a Kellogg’s box from the 1970s with Yogi Berra on it, you cut it out and it had a little stand. We define that as a card, but others may see it as a cereal box premium. We cast a wide net on what we consider a baseball card.”
In the early 1900s, cards were packaged with tobacco products to promote the brand, including the famous Honus Wagner card, which ceased production after the shortstop, a non-smoker, refused to let tobacco companies use his image. “That one is in our ‘Holy Grail’ section,” he said. “Each card is in a separate box, and you push a button to put the light on it for just a few seconds.”
F
rom the starting line in front of Doubleday Field a few minutes ago, Cooperstown’s Frankie Panzarella, top photo, center, and his pal Justin Wolfe, left, led the 8th annual BASE Race 5K “Fun Run” now underway through the streets of the village, the first activity in a day of Hall of Fame offerings. At 10 a.m., ribbon-cutting on the new exhibit on baseball cards, “Shoebox Treasures,” will happen at 25 Main. The 11th annual Hall of Fame Classic, featuring six Hall of Famers and many MLB standouts, begins at 1:05 p.m. at Doubleday; tickets are still on sale at the Hall. Between Frankie and Justin is Bradley Weldon of Cooperstown, who is running with Ashlyn Wolfe, an assistant Otsego County Dairy Princess. Inset, the Hall’s Shirley Tyler, who is emceeing, chats with the two celebrity starters, Grant Balfour, who played with four teams, from the Twins to the A’s, and, with back to camera, Ryan Rowland-Smith, who played with the Mariners and Diamondbacks. Both are rare Australian players who made it into the Majors. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
LEGENDS GAME – 1:05 p.m. The 11th annual Hall of Fame Classic 7-inning game w/6 HOF legends & players from all-30 MLB teams will play 7-inning game. Tickets $11-12.50. Pregame Home Run Derby at noon. Doubleday Field. Info, 607-207-9519, www.BaseballHall.org
Editor’s Note: Tim Mead, incoming Baseball Hall of Fame president, cited John Scolinos, baseball coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, as a lifelong inspiration, particularly Scolinos’ famous speech “17 Inches.” Chris Sperry, who published sperrybaseballlife.com, heard Scolinos deliver a version in 1996 at the American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, and wrote this reminiscence in 1916 in his “Baseball Thoughts” column.
By CHRIS SPERRY • from www.sperrybaseballlife.com
In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching career that began in 1948. He shuffled to the stage to an impressive standing ovation, wearing dark polyester pants, a light blue shirt, and a string around his neck from which home plate hung — a full-sized, stark-white home plate.
After speaking for 25 minutes, he said:
“You’re probably all wondering why I’m wearing home plate around my neck. Or maybe you think I escaped from Camarillo State Hospital,” he said, his voice growing irascible. I laughed along with the others, acknowledging the possibility.
“No,” he continued, “I may be old, but I’m not crazy. The reason I stand before you today is to share with you baseball people what I’ve learned in my life, what I’ve learned about home plate in my 78 years.”
Several hands went up when Scolinos asked how many Little League coaches were in the room. “Do you know how wide home plate is in Little League?” After a pause, someone offered, “Seventeen inches,” more question than answer.
COOPERSTOWN – Tim Mead, 61, 22-year vice president/communications for the Los Angeles Angels, has been named president of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Hall board Chairman Jane Forbes Clark announced a few minutes ago.
“The Board of Directors is very pleased that Tim has accepted the position of President of the Hall of Fame,” said Clark. “Tim is deeply respected throughout the baseball industry, among players, executives and media alike. He has a great affection for the game and its history, and we are looking forward to having him leading the efforts of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.”
In his most recent position, Mead, who has spent 40 years with the Angels, oversaw the team’s media relations, publicity and broadcasting operations. He was assistant general manager in 1994-97. He had started in the public relations department in 1980, became director of media relations in 1985 and assistant vice president/media relations, in 1991.
Surrounded by a phalanx of TV cameras in the Hall of Plaques (and with Babe Ruth, inset, peeking over his shoulder), Edgar Martinez said he’s proud of the shared heritage he and Yankee superstar Mariano Rivera will bring to the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on July 21. He diplomatically side-stepped one reporter’s observation that Martinez batted 572 when facing Rivera on the mound. Martinez, who played 17 years with the Seattle Mariners, is in Cooperstown today going through his pre-Induction orientation at 25 Main St. He was a seven-time MLB All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, and two-time batting champion. (Jim Kevlin/www.AllOTSEGO.com)