Heading to the Hall

[Ubiquitous]

I'm heading to the Hall this Wed to do some research anybody want me to snap some photos? I don't know how much time I'll have to sight see but if the request is reasonable I'll be more then happy to snap some pictures and post them here.

[RuthMayBond]

I'm heading to the Hall this Wed to do some research anybody want me to snap some photos? I don't know how much time I'll have to sight see but if the request is reasonable I'll be more then happy to snap some pictures and post them here.PLEASE contact Bill Burgess :pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray::pray:

[psbaseballfan27]

If you can do me a favor and happen to see who's signing to let me know. I might go next year and just want to get an idea being an auto collector.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I'd like to see some Cooperstown field photos if you have the time to get there. And, the library itself. When I was there in 2001, it just seemed so primitive.

[Ubiquitous]

I'd like to see some Cooperstown field photos if you have the time to get there. And, the library itself. When I was there in 2001, it just seemed so primitive.

The library probably hasn't changed much. It is still a small room with a large table in the center, two microfiche machines to one side and a desk for the receptionist. I would really like to see the hall put in an actual library with all of its services but considering that the Hall is in an out of the way place and doesn't get a lot of visitors I can certainly understand why they don't cater to my wishes.

[Captain Cold Nose]

The library probably hasn't changed much. It is still a small room with a large table in the center, two microfiche machines to one side and a desk for the receptionist. I would really like to see the hall put in an actual library with all of its services but considering that the Hall is in an out of the way place and doesn't get a lot of visitors I can certainly understand why they don't cater to my wishes.

We've had a similar discussion before. The Clark family could do so much more with the place if they really wanted to. Even keeping it in Cooperstown.

[Ubiquitous]

We've had a similar discussion before. The Clark family could do so much more with the place if they really wanted to. Even keeping it in Cooperstown.

The hall really doesn't have the money to do a whole lot. I believe one of our members checked and they have a surplus of something like 10 million dollars which may sound like a lot, but for a non profit organization it really isn't a lot. Contrast that with Harvard which has a 26 billion dollar fund and it really looks like peanuts, granted Harvard is number one on the college lists. Now of course the Clarks could pony up the dough or even the members but as I said before it is their location that is truly hurting their revenue possibilities and thus ultimately what the hall is able to do and provide.

[Brad Harris]

The hall really doesn't have the money to do a whole lot. I believe one of our members checked and they have a surplus of something like 10 million dollars which may sound like a lot, but for a non profit organization it really isn't a lot. Contrast that with Harvard which has a 26 billion dollar fund and it really looks like peanuts, granted Harvard is number one on the college lists. Now of course the Clarks could pony up the dough or even the members but as I said before it is their location that is truly hurting their revenue possibilities and thus ultimately what the hall is able to do and provide.

The Hall could do a lot of things to raise money if they really wanted to. The could expand voting privileges, for one. Many fans would be willing to pay money for the opportunity to take some kind of test to be added to the voter rolls. They could digitize all or parts of their massive collection and charge a subscriber fee to access it online. The Hall could set a reasonable standard research fee for research requests (if they haven't already).

The "Friends of the Hall" program is really a sponsorship program for donors and needs to be expanded, probably into the corporate world. Sure, bastardizing the sanctity of Cooperstown for the sake of the almighty buck may seem sordid, but getting corporate sponsors for different facets of the Hall could certainly multiply that $10 million very quickly.

Furthmore, $10 million is far from peanuts. Just a small portion of that could easily furnish a new library with all the modern accessories you'd expect to see at a major university or public such facility.

[Ubiquitous]

The Hall could do a lot of things to raise money if they really wanted to. The could expand voting privileges, for one. Many fans would be willing to pay money for the opportunity to take some kind of test to be added to the voter rolls.
I don't think this one would be well received. For starters the baseball media would be up in arms and they would give it tons of bad press. Secondly I think most people would view it as a corruption of the institution.


They could digitize all or parts of their massive collection and charge a subscriber fee to access it online.
Possible but lots of gray areas to work out in terms of copyrights and whatever agreements they have worked out with donors. People could be donating copies of photos that are copyrighted to other people or institutions. Nor do I think that would really haul in a lot of money above and beyond the costs of doing it.

The Hall could set a reasonable standard research fee for research requests (if they haven't already).
They already do this.


The "Friends of the Hall" program is really a sponsorship program for donors and needs to be expanded, probably into the corporate world. Sure, bastardizing the sanctity of Cooperstown for the sake of the almighty buck may seem sordid, but getting corporate sponsors for different facets of the Hall could certainly multiply that $10 million very quickly.
The hall of fame already does this. AT&T, Coke, DHL, Southwest, and numerous others as well as MLB.


Furthermore, $10 million is far from peanuts. Just a small portion of that could easily furnish a new library with all the modern accessories you'd expect to see at a major university or public such facility.

No it is peanuts. Endowments are not meant to be spent but invested so that they generate revenue for the organization. Yes the Hall could build a new library but then the 10 million dollars would be gone. A bigger endowment generates bigger revenue which allows for more investing into the organization.

[Brad Harris]

Well, it's difficult to feel sorry for an institution that has, historically speaking, mismanaged itself and is almost completely inaccessible to the vast majority of people who might otherwise be willing to pay to visit the museum. It's too bad the Hall won't relocate to New York City or Chicago or some similar venue. That seems the best way to multiply its revenue...by multiplying the number of visitors.

[Ubiquitous]

Last chance

[RuthMayBond]

Last chanceIf they have anything about the Indians championships (since I won't be experiencing one in MY lifetime)

[Ubiquitous]

Here you go RMB.

They didn't have anything on the 1920 Indians but they had jersies for 1948 and 1954. Early Wynn's glove and baseballs and Bob Feller's as well.
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/indians1.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/indians2test.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/indians3test.jpg

[Ubiquitous]

Here you CCN, doubleday field

http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park1.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park2.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park3.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park4.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park5.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park6.jpg
http://halloffamepics.pbwiki.com/f/park7.jpg

[RuthMayBond]

Here you go RMB.

They didn't have anything on the 1920 Indians but they had jersies for 1948 and 1954. Early Wynn's glove and baseballs and Bob Feller's as well.
Thanks Ubiq, you da man :dance:highfive::bowdown::thumbsup::cool::applaud:

[Captain Cold Nose]

Thanks Ubiq, you da man :dance:highfive::bowdown::thumbsup::cool::applaud:

Well said, RMB. Thanks, Ubi.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I don't think this one would be well received. For starters the baseball media would be up in arms and they would give it tons of bad press. Secondly I think most people would view it as a corruption of the institution.
On a smaller scale do you think the Hall would ever consider the possibility of extending the HoF voting previleges to serious baseball researchers or SABR members?

[Ubiquitous]

In a way serious baseball researchers used to have a pretty big say in who got elected via the VC. That door for the most part is closed.

The hall won't make any changes the BBWAA don't agree this. The media is the Hall's bread and butter. They are the ones that give it publicity they are the ones that make a musuem in a podunk town relevant.

So really the question should be will the BBWAA ever allow serious researchers and SABR types into the fold?

The answer to that is that they are slowly getting there.

[jalbright]

Actually, the media called the internet may be a prime vehicle for making that happen. Newspapers are in decline and the net is definitely on the rise. While the net has plenty of crap on sports (and other topics), it also has some cutting edge stuff.