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8-16-2007

Hall continues artifact quest


By ERIC AHLQVIST

Editor

After returning to Cooperstown on Friday with artifacts from Barry Bonds’ historic home run chase last week, the Hall of Fame’s traveling man, Jeff Idelson, was back on the road last weekend.

Idelson attended a ceremony at Shea Stadium Sunday celebrating New York Mets’ pitcher Tom Glavine’s 300th win.

Glavine won his 300th game Aug. 5 in Chicago, and after the ceremony he donated a game-used jersey and baseball from the 300th game to the Hall of Fame. The artifacts will join the Bonds items in the Today’s Game exhibit on the museum’s second floor.

``He’s a Hall of Famer in the making," Hall vice president Idelson said. "He’s part of an elite club of pitchers who have won 300 games _ only 23 in history _ and having his jersey from the night he won 300 in Wrigley Field will allow all Mets fans who appreciate his accomplishments to have a connection back to that special night."

Glavine spoke with the Hall of Fame back in spring training _ then 10 wins shy of the feat _ about the possibility of donating items from his 300th win. He also donated one of his souvenir balls, signed by both the lefty and catcher Paul Lo Duca.

``I had a pretty good idea going in they were going to want a jersey, so I tried to make at least one of those available,’’ Glavine told MLB.com. ``And I had a handful of baseballs from that game, and they requested one of those. Fortunately, I hadn’t given them all away yet.’’

Many other 300-game winners have donated items from their historic nights to the Hall, including Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver and Greg Maddux, Glavine’s former teammate and the last player before the lefty to achieve his 300th win.

Glavine previously donated the spikes he wore while earning World Series MVP honors in 1995.

Glavine has earned 58 of his 300 wins with the Mets, and he became the only pitcher in club history to win his 300th game in a Mets uniform. He spent the bulk of his career with the Atlanta Braves.

``Tom’s a man of great character and integrity," Idelson said. "When you match that with his on-field accomplishments, it’s extra special for the fans, extra special for him and extra special for baseball.’’

Selected items from Bonds’ historic home runs hit Aug. 7 are now on display at the Hall of Fame as well, and were unveiled Friday at 9 a.m. The helmets worn by Bonds for his record-tying 755th career home run on Aug. 4 and the record-setting 756th career home run on Aug. 7 highlight a display case featuring a number of historical artifacts related to the feats.

In addition, Hall representative Brad Horn attended a Sunday ceremony in Houston for the Astros’ Craig Biggio, who collected his 3,000th hit earlier this year. Horn is due back in Cooperstown Thursday with the bat and spikes Biggio used during the historic game.

On Saturday, Horn will be headed to Yankee Stadium where he will likely receive the helmet third baseman Alex Rodriguez wore when he hit his 500th home run on Aug. 4. A-Rod is the youngest player to ever reach 500 home runs.

Other items accompanying Barry Bonds helmets currently on display in the case include:

Scorecard from the Aug. 7 game kept by Giants television broadcast announcer Duane Kuiper;

Ball-strike indicator from home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck used on Aug. 7;

A set of tickets from the games in which Bonds hit his record-tying and record-breaking home runs;

Sports front pages from the San Diego Union-Tribune of Aug. 5 and the San Francisco Chronicle of Aug. 8.

Also from the historic events, the Museum has received three game-used baseballs from Aug. 7:

One signed by the Giants starting nine and manager Bruce Bochy;

One signed by the Nationals starting nine and manager Manny Acta;

One signed by the four umpires who worked the game: Hirschbeck, Wally Bell, Laz Diaz and Bill Welke.

Additionally, the Museum is expecting to receive additional donation items in the coming days, including a base from home run number 755, a base or home plate from home run 756 and lineup cards from the Aug. 4 and 7 games.

The exhibit will be on display through spring as part of the 2007 Highlights case in the Today’s Game exhibit.

 
 
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