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Heritage Museums open CCBL Hall of Fame

03/18/2003 10:42 AM

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for immediate release: 18 March, 2003
      

Heritage Museums & Gardens
opens new and expanded
Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame


SANDWICH, Cape Cod, MA - The nation's premier collegiate baseball summer league has a new and expanded place to showcase its all-time legends.


    Two of the region's most historic organizations joined forces today as Heritage Museums & Gardens has reached an agreement with the Cape Cod Baseball League to house its Hall of Fame until 2008.


    The newly expanded exhibit in Sandwich, Mass., will open to the public Sunday, May 4 at 10 am in the recently renovated American History Museum.


    "The celebration of the American spirit, which is the central theme at Heritage, is certainly embodied in this showcase of the history and achievement of the Cape Cod Baseball League and its most notable players," said Glenn Pare, Executive Director of Heritage Museums & Gardens.


    A previous, smaller Heritage exhibit, Baseball by the Beach, included items and information contributed by the Falmouth Historical Society, Alfred G. Irish, Mr. And Mrs. Daniel Dunn, CCBL Hall of Famer Arnold Mycock and the Cotuit
Kettleers, former CCBL Director of Public Relations and new Bourne Braves GM Sean Walsh and CCBL Hall of Fame umpire Robert "Curly" Clement. The Hall of Fame will incorporate much of this material along with an ongoing, expanding collection of artifacts, including 2000, 2001 and 2002 inductee material.


    "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Heritage Museums & Gardens," said Judy Walden Scarafile, Cape Cod Baseball League President and Director of Corporate Development. "To have a central location for people to learn more about the Cape League's history and great players, coaches and administrators of the past is a dream come true." 


    The American History Museum will house the Cape League Hall of Fame, featuring personal and team memorabilia, historic photos, and movie and video footage, with special salutes to organizers, officials and those active in the formative years of the League. The Dugout store, in the History Museum, will offer baseball memorabilia, books, games and sportswear.


    There are 31 Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame inductees who will be showcased at the Heritage Museum & Gardens exhibit.


    "The Cape League is honored to have its Hall of Fame housed at Heritage Museums," said Bob Stead, CCBL Commissioner and Hall of Fame Chair. "I can't think of two institutions on Cape Cod that are more compatible. It's a natural marriage - the museum of America and the great game of baseball as embodied by the Cape League. This is truly a win-win situation for both parties and the citizens and visitors to Cape Cod."


    The inaugural 2000 Hall of Fame class includes current Boston Red Sox Vice President Dick Bresciani, former CCBL player and major league scout Bill Enos, former CCBL hurler and Cy Young Award winner Mike Flanagan, veteran field manager Eddie Lyons, major league scout and former player Len Merullo, CCBL batting champion and American League MVP Thurman Munson, Cotuit administrator Arnold Mycock, relief ace Jeff Reardon, former umpire-in-chief/ commissioner Dan Silva, CCBL All-Star and CCBL All-Star and AL MVP's Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn and former player and field manager Merrill "Red" Wilson.


    The 2001 class includes pitcher Cal Burlingame, former CCBL commissioner Fred Ebbett, CCBL MVP and 2002 World Series hero Darin Erstad, CCBL batting champion and AL Rookie of the Year Chuck Knoblauch, two-time CCBL batting champion Tony Plansky, CCBL MVP/batting champion and AL All-Star catcher Terry Steinbach and major league infielder Robin Ventura, College Baseball's Player of the Decade.


    The class of 2002 includes veteran umpire Robert "Curly" Clement, two-way CCBL standout and major league pitcher Ron Darling, former president and Orleans anchor Russ Ford, CCBL All-Star and two-time AL batting champion Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox, former CCBL player and field manager George Greer, former CCBL player, manager and president George Karras, hurler Bernie Kilroy, outfielder/pitcher Bill Livesey, former major league hurler Paul Mitchell, CCBL batting champion and current Texas Rangers manager Nat "Buck" Showalter, long-time CCBL administrator Richard "Dick" Sullivan and CCBL batting champion and current Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.
The 4th annual Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2003 at the Chatham Bars Inn. Nominations for the 2003 Hall of Fame Class are being considered by the selection committee and will be announced later this spring. 


    Another new exhibit, The Political Cartoons of Taylor Jones, will be on display in the American History Museum building until October 19. Also in the building are antique toys and Native American artifacts. The America History Gallery will open with selected firearms, flags and military miniatures.
The museum, which began year-round operations in May, 2002, has over 110,000 visitors annually. Now in its 34th year, Heritage Museums & Gardens has spectacular gardens of rhododendron and azaleas in rare and unusual colors, engaging new exhibits, and offers visitors a unique experience ranging from quiet contemplation to active exploration.


    Heritage Museums & Gardens is located off Route 130 at Pine and Grove Street in Sandwich. For more information, visit www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org.


    Celebrating its 118th season, the Cape League is the premier NCAA-sanctioned summer baseball league in the country. Last summer, the league broke its all-time attendance record with over 260,000 fans, in addition to over six million visits to its website. Last June, 148 former CCBL players were selected in the 2002 Major League Draft, including nine in the first round. There are currently 183 Cape League alumni performing in the major leagues. 


    For more information on the CCBL, visit www.capecodbaseball.org or call the Cape League office at 508-385-6260.


    Heritage and the Cape League are seeking additional baseball memorabilia that would enhance the exhibit to create a better understanding of the CCBL. If you have a jersey, glove, autographed bat or perhaps some video or film footage, the museum staff would like to see it. All items should be brought to the J.K. Lilly III Antique Automobile Museum at Heritage, Saturday, March 22 from 9 am to noon. These items will be examined that day for the possibility of being a part of the exhibit.


    For more information on donating or loaning baseball memorabilia, contact Sunnee Spencer, Deputy Director for Museum Programs and Services at 508-888-3300, ext. 112 or by e-mail at [email protected].


John Garner, Jr., CCBL Director of
Public Relations & Broadcasting  (508) 790-0394
Judith I. Selleck, Heritage Senior PR Manager  (508) 888-3300, ext. 127