Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
August 2, 2002, Washington Post

Check Out This Library

Inclusion in the National Baseball Hall of Fame is the sport's highest honor. Last week, Ozzie Smith, the "Wizard of Oz" and maybe the greatest fielding shortstop of all time, took his place among the game's greats.

If you like baseball, you absolutely have to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The museum is full of historical baseball stuff such as old gloves, uniforms and films of the game's greatest players.

And don't forget to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library. Believe me, this isn't your regular library. The Hall of Fame Library has more than 2.6 million items in its collection. And they are all about baseball.

Jim Gates has been librarian at the Hall of Fame Library for seven years. I talked to him about the library and his job.

How is the Hall of Fame Library different from other libraries?

Our library focuses on the history of baseball. However, we operate just like most other libraries. We acquire materials for the collection, we inventory and catalogue these items, we do our best to preserve the material for future generations, and we make this material available to researchers.

Do you get asked lots of baseball questions?

Yes, our library staff handles tens of thousands of questions in the average year. We receive questions from school children, college students, all of the media, authors and professional researchers, and regular baseball fans. You never know who is going to be on the phone when you pick it up. It might be a third-grader with a homework matter, or someone from the White House trying to confirm something for the president.

If you gave a tour of the library to a bunch of kids, what would you show them?

I would probably show them the film vault where we store the 12,000 hours of audio-video footage, the photo archive where we maintain over 500,000 images from the game, and the file collection where we keep information on every person who has played major league, Negro leagues or women's league baseball.

What do kids find most surprising about the library?

First, they are usually surprised at how big the collection is. Then they are surprised when we make them wear white cotton gloves when they look at photos and other material. These gloves help to protect the material from dirt and oils on your hands.

What are some of the most unusual things in the library's collection?

Some of my favorite items include the handwritten manuscript for the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" by Jack Norworth; a promissory note for the 1919 sale of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees; the original scorecard which Russ Hodges was keeping when Bobby Thomson hit his famous home run to win the 1951 National League pennant, the so-called "shot heard round the world."

Do you get to meet many Hall of Famers?

Yes, I have had the chance to meet about 40 different inductees, as well as dozens of other players, baseball executives, members of the media. The chance to meet so many great baseball people is a wonderful part of this job.

Do you get their autographs?

No, Hall of Fame staff are not permitted to ask for autographs. We try to create a safe area around the players so they can have a rest from the autograph seekers.

Are you a baseball fan?

Absolutely. I have been a lifelong Oriole fan. My all-time favorite player is Orioles Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.

Do you have to be a baseball fan to be the librarian there?

It is not required, but it sure helps.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's Friday sports column and is the author of sports novels for kids.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company