(from press release)

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Fenimore Art Museum will welcome the Hartford Senators Vintage Base Ball Club to Cooperstown for a weekend full of interactive activities, September 26-27, 2009.

Museum visitors can learn how the game was played in the 1800s at an interactive living-history station with costumed interpreters and take in an 1860 ballgame.

The full schedule of events for the weekend:

Saturday, Sept. 26
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
(Location: Sculpture Park)

10:00 AM and 2:00 PM – The Rules of Vintage Base Ball
Interact with members of the Hartford Senators Vintage Base Ball team and learn about the evolution of the sport in its early days. Learn about rule changes and variations throughout the 19th century, as baseball evolved from a community game into a national pastime and a professional business.

11:00 AM and 3:00 PM – The Tools of Vintage Base Ball
Ever wonder when baseball players used the first gloves? Or when the ball got that classic figure-eight stitching pattern? Find out as members of the Hartford Senators Vintage Base Ball team talk about the evolution of baseball equipment in the 19th century and show off some of the equipment that they use today playing Vintage Base Ball.

1:00 PM – Vintage Base Ball
Join the Hartford Senators Vintage Base Ball Club as they discuss vintage base ball today.

Sunday, Sept. 27
Fenimore Art Museum
(Location: Back lawn)

12:30 PM – Come on out to watch the Hartford Senators Vintage Base Ball Club in action as they play two ballgames using 1860 rules of the game. A fun and interactive event for the whole family.

The programs at the Baseball Hall of Fame are included in the cost of admission. No ticket is required to attend Sunday’s game at the Fenimore Art Museum.

One of the nation’s premier art institutions, the Fenimore Art Museum is home to an exceptionally-rich collection of American folk art and American Indian art as well as important holdings in American decorative arts, photography, and 19th- and 20th-century art. The Museum is located on 5798 State Hwy. 80, Lake Road, in Cooperstown.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Museum observes offseason hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.

The 2009 Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival will take place this weekend (September 5-6, 2009) at the Ohio Village and 17th Avenue Fields in Columbus, Ohio.

For two days over the Labor Day Weekend, 27 gentlemen’s and 2 ladies’ vintage base ball teams will square off on fields around the Ohio Village to celebrate base ball “the way it was meant to be played.”

Teams from Ohio (including the local Ohio Village Muffins) and other states will play matches on at least four fields using rules based in the year 1860 in period uniforms and equipment. The Ohio Cup represents the largest gathering of vintage base ball clubs in the country.

Admission is $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for youths, and free for OHS members.  There is a $4.00 parking fee for nonmembers.

For more information, call 614.297.2300 or 800.686.6124, or visit the website.

(from press release)

The New York-Penn League has announced the inaugural recipients of three $2,500 college scholarships awarded by the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation. One scholarship is being awarded for each of the New York-Penn League’s three Divisions: the Stedler Division, the Pinckney Division, and the McNamara Division.

The recipient for the Stedler Division is Andrew Barna (Tri-City ValleyCats), who is studying pharmacy at the University of Connecticut.

The recipient for the Pinckney Division is Cassidy Grove (Williamsport Crosscutters), who is studying biochemistry at Penn State University.

The recipient for the McNamara Division is Christian Waterman (Brooklyn Cyclones), who is studying sports management at University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

“The $7,500.00 being awarded for educational aid is but one of many original goals of the Foundation,” remarked Ben Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League. “However, it is an important one!”

“When the Foundation was created in 2003, one of our ultimate goals was to make annual scholarships available,” C.J. Knudsen, Executive Director of the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, said. “In these hard economic times, we are grateful to reward these well-deserving individuals and fans of the New York-Penn League with scholarships. Hopefully we can continue to make more available in the future.”

The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation’s 2008 Community Benefit Report reports the New York-Penn League, its 14 Clubs, and the Foundation contributed in excess of $840,000 in assisting those in need within baseball and the communities hosting the League and its Clubs. The 2008 Report also recorded thousands of volunteer hours expended by players, coaches, mascots, and Club and League staff on charitable and community service needs.

Jim O’Rourke (born September 1, 1850)
Al Spalding (born September 2, 1850)
Nap Lajoie (born September 5, 1874)
Bill Mazeroski (born September 5, 1936)
Red Faber (born September 6, 1888)
Buck Leonard (born September 8, 1907)
Frank Chance (born September 9, 1876)
Frankie Frisch (born September 9, 1898)
Waite Hoyt (born September 9, 1899)
George Kelly (born September 10, 1895)
Kid Nichols (born September 14, 1869)
Gaylord Perry (born September 15, 1938)
Robin Yount (born September 16, 1955)
Rube Foster (born September 17, 1879)
Orlando Cepeda (born September 17, 1937)
Ryne Sandberg (born September 18, 1959)
Duke Snider (born September 19, 1926)
Joe Morgan (born September 19, 1943)
Bob Lemon (born September 22, 1920)
Tommy Lasorda (born September 22, 1927)
Phil Rizzuto (born September 25, 1916)
Mike Schmidt (born September 27, 1949)
Robin Roberts (born September 30, 1926)