There is nothing like a visit to Cooperstown, New York, on a nice spring weekend. I have not been in a few years — thinking … gosh, its been since 2013 — because I live a few plane rides away and I have kids and a job and stuff like that. Cooperstown is a fine relaxing town fit for a cold beer, walking around and about, window shopping and immersing yourself in the history of baseball. Little known fact: The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is there.
The Museum is a wonderful place, as many (most?) of you know. But next spring it will become even more wonderful.
For next spring is when the Baseball Hall of Fame will be unveiling this.
The page I link above was set up as a fund-raiser, but a few days ago I was told that the goal has been met and the permanent exhibit will open in 2019. They are aiming for Memorial Day weekend, when the summer season (and extended hours) kick in, but officially they are only saying “Spring 2019.”
In the past several months, as this exhibit began to crystallize, Chris Dial, Jeff Katz and I have been discussing a gathering of this committee (open to everyone) the weekend (still TBD) of the Grand Opening. What would this gathering entail? Not sure yet, but we envision speakers and events of some sort.
(One possible hiccup is that we also don’t yet know the dates/place of the SABR convention next summer. Obviously we would prefer that these two events be spaced apart.)
It would great if many of you began to think about setting aside a few days to head to Cooperstown next spring. Let’s face it — you’ve been putting off going to the Hall for a few years/decades, always saying “I’ll go next year.” Well, next year is next year.
Sorry for the lack of specifics. We shall keep you informed. If you have bright ideas, pass them on.
SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee 
Mark – As a suggestion, The Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture is held the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday after Memorial Day. It is a fantastic event. Perhaps something could be scheduled around that. Admittedly, this is a selfish idea as I will surely attend the Symposium, but perhaps it will work for others as well.
–Rich
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