Fenway keeps making history

By CRAIG MUDER

At any point in time, there are about 4,000 artifacts on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

And at any point in time, there’s a visitor in the Museum asking: “Where is Curt Schilling’s bloody sock?”

Any debate about the Museum’s “most popular” artifact must include Schilling’s hosiery from the 2004 postseason. Currently, the bloody sock is on display in the Museum’s FENtennial: Fenway Park’s First 100 Years exhibit. It’s one of almost four dozen historic pieces – including Carlton Fisk’s bat from Game 6 of the 1975 World Series – on display in FENtennial.

The Red Sox donated several artifacts to the Hall of Fame on Saturday, including a ball and base from the April 20 Red Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park — a game that marked Fenway’s 100th anniversary.” (Craig Muder/NBHOF Library)

But even after turning 100 years old, Fenway is still making history. And some of that history came to Cooperstown on Saturday at Fenway Day when the Museum accepted a donation from the Red Sox of a ball, a base and a game ticket used at the April 20 game against the Yankees – a game that marked the park’s 100th birthday.

Fans at the Hall of Fame on Saturday got to see those artifacts up close during an Artifact Spotlight in the Museum’s Bullpen Theater.“Fenway Park is such a unique place because it’s part of the city and part of people’s lives,” said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Almost no other park in the big leagues has a connection like that.”

The FENtennial exhibit will remain at the Museum through the 2012 season, and the exhibit is included with regular admission to the Hall of Fame.

Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.