John Franco's jersey memorializing the victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001

JOHN FRANCO'S JERSEY - When baseball resumed after September 11th, 2001, nobody represented the game better than Brooklyn native and Met captain John Franco.  The jersey has the flag on the back, a 9-11-01 patch surrounded by flags on the right sleeve, and a Mets patch on the left.  In a case with a promotional baseball that was pulled from the World Trade Center rubble and World Series MVP Curt Schilling's cap with the handwritten inscription "God Bless America," this jersey quietly reminds us how baseball acknowledged the tragedy of the terrorist attack on our country while, at the same time, the resumption of America's pastime helped the country begin the healing process during the aftermath.

WORLD SERIES MEMORIES - There are several displays commemorating the 1969 Miracle Mets, including a half of Shea's home plate that had been seized by a fan when the Mets clinched the NL East on September 24, 1969; a photograph of Tom Seaver and Gary Gentry surveying the damage to the field following the World Series Championship; and a photograph of the ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes following the Series victory.  1986 World Series MVP Ray Knight's batting helmet was on display, as were several logo items from the Mets-Yankees Y2K Subway Series.

BROOKLYN BASEBALL - Old time Dodger fans can't help getting misty over the ball pitched by Johnny Podres during game seven of the 1955 World Series - the only World Series won by Brooklyn!  Fans of today appreciate that the 2001 Brooklyn Cyclones cap symbolizes the return of professional baseball to the borough.

THE END OF ONE ERA AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER - The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants left for California in 1957, and out of that loss the New York Mets were eventually born to replace them.  A Mets plastic wallet from 1964 is on display.  There is also a seat and a turnstile from the Polo Grounds - the stadium that housed both the New York Giants as well as the fledgling Mets, prior to the 1964 opening of Shea Stadium.

Rey Ordoñez' jersey as an example of the increasing diversity in baseball.

CHANGING WITH THE TIMES - Jackie Robinson's Brooklyn Dodgers jersey is on display as part of an exhibit on the breaking of baseball's color barrier.  A 2001 Rey Ordoñez Mets jersey, complete with a tilde, demonstrates that the proper Spanish spelling of players' names is becoming commonplace on uniforms and on television.

SELLING THE PRODUCT - Players pushing products in the marketplace is as American as apple pie and, well, as baseball!  Mets fans will enjoy seeing a 1993 Corn Flakes box featuring Nolan Ryan, as well as a picture of Mike Piazza in a recent print ad for Claritin.

OF GENERAL INTEREST - There are many items that will appeal to any fan of the game.  Who can't smile at the San Diego Chicken's costume?  Or an ear of corn from the actual Field of Dreams?  Or the bracelet that Lou Gehrig made from his many awards and championship rings as a gift for his wife?  Or hearing the original version of "Willie, Mickey and 'The Duke' (Talkin' Baseball)" being played while looking at all of these treasures of the sport?

BEFORE YOU LEAVE - The final item on exhibit before leaving Baseball as America is a 1985 Andy Warhol acrylic screen print on canvas of Tom Seaver.  Baseball as Pop Art demonstrates just how much the sport is intertwined with our culture.

	Andy Warhol's portrait of Tom Seaver

WHEN YOU LEAVE - When you exit the displays you enter a special exhibit gift shop, containing many souvenirs of the show as well as general baseball memorabilia.  If price is no object, then go to town!  However, it's worth doing some comparison shopping before visiting this show, because many of the items can be found elsewhere at better prices.

GENERAL INFORMATION - The American Museum of Natural History is located at 79th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan.  Tickets to Baseball as America cost $15 for adults, $9 for children and $11 for seniors and students - a $2 per ticket surcharge is added to tickets purchased in advance.  Tickets may be ordered online at www.amnh.org or by telephone at 212-769-5200.  To see when Baseball as America will be visiting other cities, check out http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/baseball/visitor.html .

One note - while this is a truly special and moving experience for baseball fans, bringing children without an appreciation of the game's history is akin to casting pearls before swine.  Many youngsters (my own included) could be heard asking when they could leave and see the dinosaurs instead.  Thus, in order to be able to look over these treasures as they are meant to be admired, you might want to consider leaving the kiddies behind.
 

"The Amazin' Mets" child's plastic wallet with magic pen wipe-off scorecard, circa 1964		1986 World Series MVP  Ray Knight's batting helmet
A seat from the Polo Grounds		One of the turnstiles from the Polo Grounds