The Hall of Fame opens at 9:00 a.m. and we got to town around 8:45. We parked in one of the remote lots and rode our bikes to the Hall. The doors were just opening when we arrived. We had prepaid tickets so we just walked in.
Everyone was heading up the stairs to the exhibits. I like to go opposite the crowd, so we stayed on the first floor and visited the Hall of Fame gallery.
I won't bore you with the plaques of all the Cubs, but here are a couple of my favorites.
By visiting when we did, we saw the place where the plaques of the 2019 inductees will go. The players sign the backing and then their autograph gets covered by the plaque. Lee Smith will go in the middle top.
Now we could go up the stairs and see the exhibits. I enjoyed taking it all in, but of course, I was on the lookout for anything Cub-related.
... no ring for the 1907 champs, a medallion instead.
...big ring for the 2016 champs.
...Schwarber's World Series jersey
...Harry's glasses
...Sammy is in the Hall of Fame.
They have an exhibit called "Shoe Box Treasures" that is all about baseball cards.
...some of the really old cards
... some early Topps cards.
I've seen drawings of the rookie trophy on cards, but now I've seen the actual trophy.
The Hall has a nice gift shop too and we spent time and money there!
I picked up this Cubs hat. It's the hat they wore in 1957, the first year they went to the round C instead of a wishbone C. The white piping was worn just that one season.
Mrs. WW insisted I buy this tie for school. I have the Rockwell painting in my office and now I'll have it around my neck, too.
I made one more purchase. It was in fact, 52 additional purchases. You'll see them tomorrow.
Wow. Never thought there was actually a rookie trophy out there. Just figured it was something Topps drew up. I also had never heard about the hall of famers signing where their plaque would go. Great piece of baseball trivia. Can't wait to see you 52 additional purchases. A deck of cards?
ReplyDeleteLike Fuji, I'm surprised there's an actual trophy.
DeleteI love the tie. I have a large puzzle of the same painting that I wound up framing and hanging on my wall.
The Hall of Fame is so awesome! I last went two years ago, and also saw autographed placeholders for the plaques. I wonder when they started that.
ReplyDeleteI think the baseball card exhibit started after my visit.
Did you stand and watch "Who's on First"?
I did!
DeleteI had such a big grin while I watched it. I also was very good and didn't talk with it and irritate the others watching.
DeleteI went once about 25 years ago. I'd love to go back!
ReplyDeleteThe hotel rooms get expensive especially when you go at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI plan to go to the Hall next year. I've been 4 or 5 times but it's been awhile. The gift shop has always been the greatest gift shop ever.
It would definitely be a shame to come out east and not make it to the baseball hall. It truly is an incredible place. I'm going to try and get back there next year.
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky that you had the hall to yourselves! And I didn't know that the new inductees sign the plaque backing. The card exhibit is very cool, I think I saw one when I went but it wasn't the same. Thanks for giving us a little tour!