Lehigh County Historical Society
The Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum

CONTACT: Joseph Garrera, Executive Director
Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum
(610) 435-1074, Ext. 19
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One of the Largest Baseball Exhibits in America To be Formally Opened by Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham And Former Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Curt Simmons At the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum Saturday, June 21 at 1:00 p.m.

Allentown, Pennsylvania – Lehigh County Executive Donald Cunningham, a baseball coach and avid fan of the sport, has agreed to formally open one of the largest baseball exhibits in America on Saturday, June 21 at 1:00 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum in Allentown.  The announcement was made by Joseph Garrera, executive director of the Museum.  “The staff and I are delighted to have a dedicated fan who understands the cultural importance of baseball to open this exhibit.  We look forward to hearing Mr. Cunningham offer his thoughts to the public about why baseball matters to all people.”  Garrera stated that the exhibit will cover 10,000 square feet, making it one of the largest baseball exhibits in the country.

The legendary Babe Ruth poses with Phillies “Whiz Kid” Curt Simmons, a native of Whitehall Township, PA.  Authentic items belonging to both men will be displayed at the Heritage Museum.

Other dignitaries speaking at the opening will include Curt Simmons, who, in 1947 at the age of 17 was paid an astonishing signing bonus of $65,000 to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.  He went on to become one of the Phillies’ “Whiz Kids,” a team of energetic young players and key veterans who won the 1950 National League Championship.  Other dignitaries in attendance will include Anita Honochick, widow of the legendary American League umpire Jim Honochick.  Limeport Dodgers team coach Jimmie Schaffer, Jr., whose father played and coached in the major leagues, will also attend.  The Lehigh Valley’s Limeport Baseball Stadium is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year.

“This is a seminal exhibit with national appeal.  The 10,000 square foot exhibit was developed with assistance from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York,” said Garrera.  The curators at the Baseball Hall of Fame, Erik Strohl, Peter Clark, and Ted Spencer, Vice President at the Hall, and others were extremely helpful, providing valuable advice and assistance, as well as the loan of major artifacts for the exhibit.  The exhibit will showcase National Baseball Hall of Fame superstars Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, and other legends of the game.  It includes Babe Ruth’s baseball cap, Lou Gehrig’s bat, and Roberto Clemente’s Pittsburgh Pirates hat as part of the 750 piece exhibit of authentic baseball memorabilia, much of which has never been on public display.  

Lehigh County Executive and baseball coach Don Cunningham will open the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum’s baseball exhibit

The exhibition is a celebration of baseball in the Lehigh Valley and in America.  “Baseball is more than a game; it is more than a sport or a national pastime,” said Garrera.  Baseball “is a game that teaches valuable lessons for life.  It teaches teamwork, perseverance, and determination.”  Baseball, Garrera said, “transforms boys into men and men into boys; it teaches people that you can strike out in one inning and hit a home run in the next.”

The exhibit will showcase enlarged photographs and biographies of Lehigh Valley players who have played or officiated in the major leagues.  Topping the roster will be a special section devoted to Whitehall Township native Curt Simmons, whose heyday with the Philadelphia Phillies was in the 1950s as part of the legendary “Whiz Kids.”  Another section will be devoted to legendary major league umpire Jim Honochick of Allentown who, prior to his death in 1994, became one of the best known umpires in the history of baseball.  

The exhibit will illustrate a history of baseball in the Lehigh Valley.  It will include baseball’s evolution, including such teams as the Allentown Cardinals, the Macungie Resolutes, the Limeport Milkmen, and many others.  Of particular importance will be some of the early baseball fields in the Lehigh Valley, including Breadon Field, Bethlehem Steel Baseball Field, the New Pavilion & Ball Grounds at the Allentown Fairgrounds, and the turn-of-the-century Base Ball Grounds in Macungie, PA.  The exhibit will also showcase Limeport Stadium, or what Garrera calls, “the Lehigh Valley’s Field of Dreams!”  Located in southern Lehigh County and celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Limeport is a field where local players hone their skills; some have even advanced from playing at Limeport Stadium to the major leagues.

The exhibit will include historic memorabilia and signed baseballs by Tommy Lasorda, Tug McGraw, and many others.  It will also include one of the most magnificent authentic Babe Ruth autographs in existence.  Of special interest is the original baseball uniform worn by Philadelphia Phillies Third Baseman Mike Schmidt in the 1980 World Series, when the Phillies became World Champions.  The uniform will be exhibited along with the cap Schmidt wore when he slammed his 500th career home run.

“This exhibit has something for everyone,” said Garrera.  The sports buff, the aficionado, and the young boy that dreams he is going to be the next Roberto Clemente, who as a young boy was told, “forget about making it to the major leagues.”  Instead Clemente, “stayed the course, believed in himself, persevered, and is now enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York,” said Garrera.

This exhibit and accompanying programs will run until the end of the year.  They are supported by The Alma & Walter Bastian Foundation; The County of Lehigh; Gross, McGinley, LaBarre & Eaton, LLP;  the Keystone Nazareth Charitable Foundation; Limeport Stadium; and The Morning Call.

For more information, contact Museum Curator Jill Youngken at 610-435-1074 Ext. 20.  The Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum is located at 432 West Walnut Street in Allentown.  Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.  Special opening day hours on June 21 run until 7:00 p.m.  Admission is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children.  

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