National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Hall of Fame, Museum, Exhibits and Museum programs

How do I find out what exhibits are on display in the Museum?

A complete Museum guide with a floorplan is available online.

How do I find out what programs are scheduled at the Museum and Hall of Fame?

Visit our Calendar of Events to see which programs are scheduled and how to best plan your visit.

How do I get access to Members-only programming?

When you become a Hall of Fame Member, you have access to Members-only events at the Museum, as well as online. As a Member, you are a special part of the Hall of Fame and your membership helps us fulfill our mission through exhibits, programming, and educational efforts. Join today.

What activities are available for children in the Hall of Fame and Museum?

Depending on the age of your children, there are several activities within the Hall of Fame and Museum. The Baseball Experience, a 13-minute movie, is very popular with children of all ages, and plays every half-hour in the Grandstand Theater. There are several interactive exhibits located throughout the Museum, with touch-screen displays, video and audio, and facts about the game and Hall of Famers. The Sandlot Kids' Clubhouse, located in the Library Atrium, is designed for children ages 2-13. It's a must-see for all baseball fans. During the summer months, interactive programming, including trivia games, take place in the Bullpen Theater, off the Library Atrium. The Museum Store is also very popular and contains items and clothing for children of all ages.

Does the Hall of Fame have traveling or temporary exhibits outside of Cooperstown?

At various times, artifacts from the vast collection of the Hall of Fame may be on loan or on display outside of Cooperstown. Contact the Hall of Fame for details on these exhibits.

Consult Baseball As America's website for information on the Hall of Fame's popular traveling exhibit.

What percentage of the Hall of Fame collection is on display at any one time?

Thousands of artifacts are on display in the Museum, representing all portions of the Hall of Fame collection. In order to preserve these items for generations to come, they are at times rotated and placed in climate-controlled, light-sensitive areas. However, the Hall of Fame collection is large enough that at any one time there are always many artifacts for baseball fans to enjoy. Of the 35,000 three-dimensional objects (baseballs, bats, gloves, jerseyes, cleats, etc.) in the collection, more than 20 percent are on display at any one time.

I saw something I want to purchase in the Museum Store, how can I do it from home?

The Baseball Hall of Fame offers a wide assortment of baseball items through our Museum Store, Direct Mail Catalog, Bookstore, and Online Museum Store, including, but not limited to: clothing, caps, photos, pennants, videos, books, calendars, household items, games, gifts, toys, watches, jewelry, and much more.

I believe there is a mistake in a Hall of Fame exhibit. Who should I contact?

If you believe that you've spotted an error in a Hall of Fame exhibit, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please send the pertinent information, including your name, postal address and telephone number to:

Curator
National Baseball Hall of Fame Library
25 Main Street
P.O. Box 590
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Or e-mail the Hall of Fame.

What is available at the Hall of Fame's A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center and how do I access it?

As a non-circulating institution, material from our collection may not be removed from the library. However, books, files, photographs, microfilm and audio-visual tapes may be accessed in the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center. The A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center, rededicated in memory of the former Commissioner of Baseball on July 26, 1998, can help you find answers to your baseball questions, large or small. Our vast collection of baseball books, magazines, newspaper clippings, and archival material is a rich source of information on baseball and related topics. Whether you want to know Lou Gehrig's lifetime batting average, determine the color of Babe Ruth's eyes, read the rule book of the All-American Girl's Professional Baseball League, or scan a file of baseball poetry, our staff is ready to help. Learn more about the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center and its collection.

You may also e-mail the Research Department.

Will the Hall of Fame appraise, authenticate or sell my baseball artifact?

Although the Museum and its staff are prohibited from providing appraisals of any object donations to the Museum, items may be tax-deductible to the extent of the full fair market value of the objects donated. In addition, donors will receive a lifetime pass to the Museum and a donor's certificate. Although we are not permitted to recommend specific individuals for the authentication, appraisal, or sale of memorabilia, listed below are a few organizations that may be helpful in searching for such information:

National Association of Professional Appraisers
65 E. India Row
Suite 10F
Boston, MA 02110
617.720.0332 Ph.
617.720.0274 Fax
www.professionalappraisers.org

International Society of Appraisers
1131 S.W. 7th St.
Suite 105
Renton, WA 98055
206.241.0359 Ph.
206.241.0436 Fax
isahq@isa-appraisers.org

How do I donate my baseball artifact to the Hall of Fame?

To learn more about donating artifacts to the Hall of Fame, please click here.

How do I get information about a baseball artifact that I own?

If you have a three-dimensional baseball artifact (such as a ball, bat, glove, etc.) and would like to receive more information about the artifact, we suggest you send an introductory letter, a photo or photos of the
item(s), each item's provenance, as well as any other pertinent information about the item(s) to:

Curator of Collections
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main Street
P.O. Box 590
Cooperstown, NY 13326

If you have a flat baseball item (such as a scorecard, letter, photograph, etc.) and would like to receive more information about the artifact, we suggest you send an introductory letter, a high-quality copy of the item(s), each item's provenance, as well as any other pertinent information about the item(s) to:

Research Department
National Baseball Hall of Fame Library
25 Main Street
P.O. Box 590
Cooperstown, NY 13326

How do I care for a baseball with fading autographs?

There is no way to bring back a faded signature from a baseball, so it is best to take steps to retard the fading process. Keep the ball in the dark at all times, removing it only briefly to show to others or to admire. Keep the ball wrapped in acid-free tissue, which is available at most any art supply store. When touching the ball, use white cotton gloves or hold the ball only by the seams. It is best to keep the ball in a location where the humidity and temperature remain constant. Recommended environmental levels are 65° F and 50 percent humidity. Most importantly, keep the ball away from all light sources — any type of light will cause fading.