National Baseball Hall of Fame photo exhibit coming to Hot Springs for 3rd annual baseball weekend
by February 12, 2020 10:17 am 1,087 views
At Yankee Stadium during Game 7 of the 1955 World Series, rival catchers Roy Campanella (batting) and Yogi Berra (catching) spring into action as umpire Jim Honochick looks on.
An exhibit of 51 photographs from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will be on display at the Hot Springs Convention Center during baseball weekend on May 8-9.
“Picturing America’s Pastime” will run through July 27 and will be free and open to the public during business hours at the Convention Center. The exhibit, sponsored by Relyance Bank, features 51 framed photographs representing the Hall of Fame’s collection of approximately 250,000 images. It is an extension of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s exhibit in Cooperstown, N.Y. designed to show the historic link between the advent of photography and baseball.
“This photo exhibit will add immeasurably to the public’s awareness of the role of baseball in America’s DNA and will fit in perfectly with Hot Springs’ growing reputation as The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “We are indebted to Relyance Bank for sponsoring this exciting addition to our fans’ experience and enjoyment.”
“Some of the greatest photographers of the last 150 years found baseball to be the perfect canvas for their work,” said Erik Strohl, vice president of exhibitions and collections at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “The images in Picturing America’s Pastime represent a small sample of the brilliant work we preserve in Cooperstown, and the touring exhibit gives fans all over the country the chance to experience the beauty and power of these photos first-hand.”
Hot Springs, once a major destination for Major League Baseball’s spring training, has developed a historic baseball trail. At one time, baseball legends such as Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Honus Wagner came to take the thermal baths, work out on mountain trails and play teams from other major league cities in spring practice games.
Personal appearances by four baseball legends will highlight the Third Annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend in May. Hall of Famers Lee Smith, Steve Carlton, and Ted Simmons will be in attendance along with ‘The Mad Hungarian’ Al Hrabosky.
“This will be the greatest weekend of activities thus far as we continue to showcase Hot Springs’ international recognition as The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Springs Training,” Arrison said. “We’ll announce the full schedule of Baseball Weekend activities soon.”
The weekend’s activities will be free and open to the public.