Centennial of Baseball

[blaze422]

I am new to this forum and was surprised that I couldn't find any threads about the opening of the HOF or more specifically the Centennial of Baseball and it's history/celebration in 1939.
Can members advise where to look, and/or if there is any interest in pics and discussion.

[BradC34]

Because it was a lie. Baseball was not started in 1839.

[blaze422]

Am I missing something?....was the Centennial ceremonies /the opening of the HOF editted out of your history of the game?

[Brian McKenna]

Welcome to Fever!

Recent book:

http://product.half.ebay.com/A-Great-Day-in-Cooperstown_W0QQprZ56957694QQtgZinfo

Don't remember much discussion here about it though. Start us off.

[Gary Dunaier]

The Baseball Hall of Fame offers a reprint of the program sold at Doubleday Field in 1939. Price: $5.97.



They used to offer an audio CD with the NBC broadcast of the actual ceremonies from 1939, including speeches from the inductees, but it no longer seems to be available. Too bad, the sound quality was excellent.

[blaze422]

At the risk of sounding cocky, I have the book, I have about 5 original programs, from the 12th of June ( other games were played, but the programs' scorecards didn't have The Wagner Team and The Collins Team), and I even have that CD (
I actually have a quasi-obsession with collectibles from that day...FDC's. patches, flags, game scorers, matchbooks, photos..etc..you get the idea.
What I need is to find is whether there is a like finded neurotic out there. Also, I'd like to share some of what I have with fellow baseball fans without being accused of being a show- off. I'd love to see if anyone can share pics, stories, of things they have concerning the 12th of June 1939.
Any finally, I'm curious if this niche is boring to most baseball historical fans.

[blaze422]

What's the opposite of computer savvy?...that's what I am
This pic is a test:

[BradC34]

Am I missing something?....was the Centennial ceremonies /the opening of the HOF editted out of your history of the game?

Oh no. I am quite aware of when the HoF opened and the total significance of 1939, but that does not change the fact that the ceremony was not the true centineal of baseball.

[blaze422]

not a program...but a flimsy broschure

[BSmile]

Here's a cool picture from 1939...the original caption reads:

Old time stars and veterans of the National and American Leagues played again at Fenwick Park here, July 12th, as part of the New England Baseball Centennial Celebration. Here are three famous old timers of the Red Sox before the game in which the National League Veterans beat the American League Veterans, 8-4. Left to right: Harry Hooper, Tris Speaker, and Duffy Lewis.

[Brian McKenna]

Blaze - do you have a list of baseball men present in Cooperstown that day?

[EdTarbusz]

I am new to this forum and was surprised that I couldn't find any threads about the opening of the HOF or more specifically the Centennial of Baseball and it's history/celebration in 1939.
Can members advise where to look, and/or if there is any interest in pics and discussion.

Another book that you might want to check out is 1939: Baseball's Tipping Point by Talmage Boston. It has a chapter about the opening of the Hall of Fame.

[blaze422]

Thanks Ed...will find it.
Brian..I am re-reading Jim Reisler's book this week-end, the the answer to your question is not very simple.
There were the inductees, and reps from e very team.(later they played on Doubleday Field). You apparently also had "generic" ball players, both retired and active. Newspaper men, writers, admin etc.
Anyone in particular?
I am seeking confirmation that John Kieran(not a player) the NY Times columnist that later was inducted into the HOF was there..( I have an autographed piece supposedly obtained by him for his daughter on June 12th...it has questionable authenticity)
Here is a uniform (on what my daughter says is a creepy manaquin)...note the patch on the sleeve. Pretty beat up, but cool non the less. Can anyone help me out and ID the team...I'm thinking minor leagues..

[BSmile]

Here's some pic's from June 12th, 1939 in Cooperstown...unfortunately, other than the date/place, there was no other specific info about the pic's.
Cheers! ~B

[Brian McKenna]

Brian..I am re-reading Jim Reisler's book this week-end, the the answer to your question is not very simple.

That's sort of why I asked you - I pulled up some newspaper articles but didn't want to root through them all.

Kieran wrote his 6/12/1939 (wrote on 6/11) column from Westbury, Long Island. He does not mention Cooperstown.

His 6/13 column is on golf. Looked at his columns through 6/17 and he doesn't even mention Cooperstown - most of his focus sat outside baseball during this week.

BTW - writers are not inducted into the HOF.