Travel

By JIM WEAVER
Special Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA - Major League Baseball spring training sites are in full swing, and for baseball fans everywhere, this is a harbinger of renewed hope their team will make a serious run for the pennant.

While most fans will ultimately be disappointed, the love for the game goes on and on. There's always "next year.''

"Baseball is America'' is an exhibit assembled by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. and the Smithsonian Institute that has travel the country for the past several years. It's currently on view at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia until May 11 when it moves to Boston's Museum of Science for the summer months.

The exhibit appeals to a broad spectrum of the public - from children playing catch for the first time to the lifelong fan - and, like the game itself, draws people of all ages and cultural heritages together. It's divided into seven sections: "Our National Spirit,'' "Routing for the Team,'' "Sharing a Common Culture,'' "Ideals and Injustices,'' "Enterprise and Opportunity,'' "Invention and Ingenuity'' and "Weaving Myths.''

The show contains more than 500 interesting artifacts.

On view is the "Doubleday Ball'' from the first game in 1839, the original manuscript for the song "Take Me Out To The Ball Game,'' famed Chicago Cubs' broadcaster's Harry Caray's eyeglasses, and the San Diego Chicken's costume. There's also the "Wonder Boy" bat from the movie "The Natural,'' a baseball-themed lunch box, and a 1906 recording of the a recitation of poem "Casey At The Bat.''

The exhibit also includes a 1907 edition of the "History of Colored Base Ball,'' Jackie Robinson's 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers jersey, and artifacts from the American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Baseball card collectors will be interested to see of the most valuable one in existence: the T206 Honus Wagner, the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop.

There's also the earliest known catcher's mask as well as the bat used by Babe Ruth to hit his 60th home run in 1927. Visitors can also see the farewell trophy given Lou Gehrig by his Yankee teammates, dirt saved from the ground of Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, and shoes worn by "Shoeless Joe Jackson" of the Chicago White Sox.

At the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia visitors can also see memorabilia with special ties to the city. Artifacts from 19th century baseball in Philadelphia, the Negro League, the Philadelphia Athletics, and the Phillies are on view.

There's even a World Series ring from the Phillies'1980 championship.

To learn more log on to www.constitutioncenter.org or www.gophila.com.

Jackie Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers jersey is one of the artifacts being displayed in the traveling exhibit of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
(Photo Courtesy/National Baseball Hall Of Fame)