Congressman Among Babe Ruth Opening Attendees
COOPERSTOWN – U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-19, will be among the dignitaries expected at the 11 a.m. opening ceremony of “Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend,” at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, part of its 75th anniversary celebration.
At noon, a roundtable discussion focusing on Ruth and his impact on the game will be held in the Museum’s Bullpen Theater and will feature Mike Gibbons, executive director of the Babe Ruth Museum; author Jane Leavy; and John Thorn, official MLB Historian.
At 1 p.m., an Authors Series event will feature Yankees historian Marty Appel, a SUNY Oneonta graduate, who will discuss his book “Pinstripe Empire” and feature a presentation on how Ruth set the standard for Yankees teams to follow.
Editor’s Note: This is the press release from the National Baseball Hall of Fame on today events:
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – As the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates its 75th Anniversary, a new exhibit makes its debut – and features a star of the first magnitude.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum chronicles Babe Ruth’s unparalleled career with a new exhibit dedicated to an American icon and one of the National Pastime’s enduring legacies. Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend will debut on Friday, June 13 at the Cooperstown shrine as the baseball world marks the 100th anniversary season of his big league debut. The Museum has long allocated exhibit space to Ruth – a member of the inaugural Class of 1936 at the Hall of Fame – but the new 180-square foot presentation will feature a completely fresh look at a player who set standards that have yet to be eclipsed.
“The name ‘Babe Ruth’ is recognized around the world even today, more than three-quarters of a century after his election to the Hall of Fame,” said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “The Museum’s Babe Ruth Gallery has long been one of our most popular exhibits, and this new exhibition will bring to life the story of a player who truly transcended the game.”
Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend presents the story of the Sultan of Swat in scrapbook form, taking the visitor from Ruth’s earliest days to his peak as a player and through his post-career life as one of America’s most beloved figures. The new exhibit will be located on the Museum’s second floor and is made possible by: Jay and Patty Baker, the Ford Motor Company and Tony and Nanar Yoseloff; with additional support from: Mike Costa, Babe Ruth League Baseball, The Hanover Insurance Group, Jockey International and Luminary Group.
Born Feb. 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Md., Ruth emerged from a schools for boys to debut in the big leagues on July 11, 1914. After spending his first years in the majors as a dominant left-handed pitcher, Ruth moved from the Red Sox’s rotation to the Yankees’ outfield – and became the game’s biggest drawing card on the strength of his prodigious power. His record of 714 career home runs stood for almost four decades.
The new exhibit will be open to the public starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, and the Museum will host two public programs on Friday afternoon in conjunction with the exhibit debut. At noon, a roundtable discussion focusing on Ruth and his impact on the game will be held in the Museum’s Bullpen Theater and will feature Mike Gibbons, executive director of the Babe Ruth Museum; author Jane Leavy; and John Thorn, official MLB Historian. At 1 p.m., an Authors Series event will feature Yankees historian Marty Appel, who will discuss his book “Pinstripe Empire” and feature a presentation on how Ruth set the standard for Yankees teams to follow.
Both of Friday’s programs are included with Museum admission.