| My heart soared. We were going to take another | | | | Gehrig. A smiling Lou Gehrig. I felt so happy just |
| trip to The Baseball Hall of Fame. One of my | | | | to be in the presence of one of my all time |
| favorite places on earth.Just like the first trip to | | | | heroes. Even if it was just a picture. Then there |
| Upstate New York. I wanted to see the likes of | | | | was one of Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams |
| Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, Mickey | | | | standing on the dugout steps Their bodies were |
| Mantle, Ty Cobb and Yogi Berra. one more | | | | angled toward each other. I enjoyed the joy they |
| time.What I saw that day has stayed with me at | | | | seemed to have just being there. Ready to play |
| the depths of my being, to this very day.As we | | | | another game. There were other paintings one of |
| walked into the building in the spring of 1999 I | | | | Jackie Robinson, another of Ty Cobb, and another |
| was greeted by two giant size replicas of two | | | | of Honus Wagner that I loved.Upon gazing toward |
| great hitters Ted Williams and Babe Ruth. I loved | | | | the end of the row of paintings I saw a glass |
| seeing the Babe again. "My friend Babe Ruth. Hello. | | | | case with what looked like a tan baseball glove |
| Hey Ted, you look pretty good." | | | | inside. This seemed very weird in that all the |
| I remember saying.I found it very interesting | | | | players that were depicted in the paintings were |
| that I and most people (if you stood under seven | | | | from an era when dark brown gloves were used... |
| foot five inches) would have to look up to see | | | | I felt confused. This mitt did not seem to belong |
| these two sculptured figures.My wife and I strolled | | | | here. I just had to see whose glove this was.I |
| through the museum looking, at the artifacts. We | | | | could not believe my eyes. It was not a glove. It |
| adored the old gloves, spikes, balls, bats and | | | | was a sculpture of a glove. Perfect in size. |
| uniforms that were encased in their glass display | | | | Detailed so exact that the grayish colored seams |
| bins. These items brought me back to a time and | | | | were complete in length width and color. The |
| place before television, radar guns and luxury | | | | depth of this piece was ideal What this sculptor |
| boxes. I was getting very nostalgic.We soon | | | | had captured amazed me. I thought about the |
| entered the wing that housed the Sammy Sosa, | | | | time he invested in creating this piece. About how |
| and Mark McGwire artifacts. This Home Run Wing | | | | much this person must have loved baseball that |
| was abundant with Sosa and McGwire | | | | he took the time to mold a piece equipment. I |
| memorabilia. This was like being in a home run | | | | visualized he sitting in his workroom playing with |
| baseball fantasy park. There were posters of | | | | clay to make this piece real.I called my wife to |
| both men. There were posters of each man's list | | | | come see this incredible piece. We both were |
| of home runs.. When they hit them and what | | | | moved. I even cried. I was given a glimpse of one |
| pitcher they hit their home run off. There were | | | | of the greatest pieces of art I had ever seen. I |
| bats they used in games and balls they hit over | | | | have been to major museums and have seen |
| the fences Amazing. Never have two major | | | | painting by Van Gough, Picasso, and Dahli ..I have |
| league men hit so many home runs in one | | | | seen the Thinker by Rodin. |
| year.Upon leaving that wing I could not help but | | | | I have never been moved like I was by the |
| feel overwhelmed by the slugging feats of these | | | | glove. |
| two huge men. One a Cub and one a Cardinal.We | | | | Whenever I think of the Hall of Fame my mind |
| continued to stroll through the hall until we came | | | | jumps to the glove. I do not know if this piece is |
| up to a narrow wing that I did not remember | | | | there any more. It did have a price tag of $8500 |
| from my previous visit. I looked down the left | | | | when I was there so it may have been |
| side of the corridor and saw a group of pictures. | | | | moved.But if you get the chance to see the |
| Hanging from wires, these colorful paintings were | | | | glove I suggest you take a look.Aron Wallad |
| displayed at my eye level. Perfect for me. I just | | | | Founder Baseball's Pride and JoyFeel free to pass |
| had to see these pictures. I was compelled. to | | | | this on to anyone you know.Aron Wallad has been |
| walk down this aisle. | | | | a baseball lover for over 45 years. His passions |
| The first picture as I entered the area was of | | | | have included; playing, watching, reading, |
| Babe Ruth. His bat was over his shoulder. His face | | | | evaluating, and coaching the game he adores. Do |
| was wrought with age. He looked a little old, | | | | you love inspiring quotes, unusual statistics and |
| heavy and a little overweight. As I stared at the | | | | most of all, heartwarming baseball stories? If you |
| picture I got very sad. I could see that his career | | | | love baseball you will love his baseball ezine. |
| was about to end.Next painting was of Lou | | | | |