Hall of Fame President Surprised
To Learn of White House's Visit
By JIM KEVLIN
COOPERSTOWN
Jeff Idelson, National Baseball Hall of Fame president, isn’t taking any credit for the First Fan’s planned Thursday, May 22, visit to 25 Main.
“As far as I understand it, with White House events, you get a little bit of notice and you go from there,” said Idelson.
The phone rang the Thursday before. It was Ken Meifert, the Hall’s VP for development. He had just gotten a call, out of the blue, advising him President Barack Obama would be paying a visit.
“It originated out of the White House,” said Idelson. “It was the White House’s idea. And I can’t think of a better one.”
As for the Hall’s 75th anniversary season – it seems to be just a coincidence, he said, that it starts just two days after the president’s visit with the annual Hall of Fame Classic game.