Tuesday, September 4, 2018

The Baseball Heritage Museum

If you like baseball, history or both, you really should visit the Baseball Heritage Museum. The museum is at 6601 Lexington Ave. in Cleveland, the site of League Park.

As you might know, League Park is where the Cleveland Indians played before they moved to Municipal Stadium. Actually, League Park predates the Indians. It was the home of the National League’s Cleveland Spiders when it opened in 1891. The Spiders beat Cincinnati 12-3 in the ballpark’s first game behind Cy Young. Yep, that Cy Young.

League Park was the site of some historic events, including the 1920 World Series, which the Indians won, and Babe Ruth’s 500th home run in 1929. Yeah, I know he was a Yankee, but it’s Babe Ruth!

Today, you can watch a game at League Park and run (or walk) the bases. Not at the same time, of course. I have walked the bases and marveled at being on the same field where so much baseball history was made.

But most events take place in the visitors center, the ballpark’s former ticket office. In the past year and a half, I’ve attended free programs about women in baseball, the Negro Leagues and baseball-related books and even met one of the authors. I’ve been following baseball for more than 40 years, but I’ve learned things at every one of these programs.

Next to the visitors center is the museum, which has permanent artifacts and changing exhibits. You’ll see seats from Municipal Stadium and a glass case with memorabilia from the Indians’ 1948 World Series championship, among other things. There are books and other items for sale as well.

Every program the museum holds is free, as far as I know. But donations are accepted and one-year memberships start at $15. Memberships help support the nonprofit museum and include a 20 percent discount on merchandise.

You can learn more at the link in the first paragraph. In addition, you can follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram to find out about upcoming events and see photos from past events.

2 comments:

  1. I attended the 1948 World Series. In utero.

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    Replies
    1. Hey, my parents went to that game! What a coincidence!

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