Jason Varitek
Lester, Ramirez, Varitek donate items to Hall of Fame
June 11, 2008 | MLB.com | By Maureen Mullen
BOSTON -- It's not often that five Hall of Famers are found in one place outside Cooperstown. But sometimes the stars line up just right, as they did before Wednesday's game between the Red Sox and Orioles at Fenway Park. Hall of Famers Bobby Doerr -- who at 90 is the oldest living player inducted into the Hall -- Carlton Fisk, Wade Boggs and Dennis Eckersley, all of whom played for the Sox, and Eddie Murray, the Orioles' Hall of Famer, visited the storied ballpark.
The group is in Boston to help the Hall celebrate the opening of the "Baseball As America" exhibit at the Museum of Science.
The Hall of Famers were part of a pregame ceremony in which the Hall accepted artifacts to commemorate recent achievements, among them Jon Lester's no-hitter against the Royals on May 19 and Manny Ramirez's 500th career home run, hit on May 31 in Baltimore. Lester donated his spikes and a ball used in the game, and Ramirez donated his batting helmet and a lineup card. Jason Varitek, who caught Lester's no-hitter -- the Major League-record fourth no-hitter he's caught -- donated his full gear from that game.
"Bringing the Hall of Famers to the exhibition openings is really a way to connect fans to the living legends," said Brad Horn, director of communications for the Hall. "Hall of Famers are what make great moments possible. The exhibit is all about the history of the game, but bringing the ambassadors from the Hall of Fame to that are important. And when we're able to tie it into tonight, simply through a twist of fate, two phenomenal efforts -- Manny Ramirez hitting his 500th home run and Jon Lester's no-hitter -- this is a way that we preserve history and document historic milestones all throughout the year.
"So, by being able to be here to receive those artifacts, it really connects today's player to the Hall of Famers. Even seeing the glistening in Jon Lester's eyes of meeting Hall of Fame legends is really important, and it's a great way for us to fulfill our mission of connecting generations.
"For nearly 70 years, since we first opened in 1939, our entire operation has been dependent on gifts and donations. So the generosity of a Manny Ramirez and a Jon Lester is equally as important as that of Joe Baseball Fan. ... When we're able to do it from players, it really makes the moment special, because Cooperstown is always this mythical place. But, for today's player to be able to say, 'Wow, this is really going to Cooperstown' is pretty special."
The "Baseball As America" exhibit opens Thursday in Boston, the last stop on a 15-city tour that began in 2002. More than 500 artifacts connecting baseball's history to the country's history will be on display.
"About 80 percent of [these artifacts], prior to the launching of this national tour in 2002, had never been on display in Cooperstown or had rarely been on display," Horn said. "So it's just about 2 percent of the items in our collection, but they're all tied to themes that affect baseball and America's relationship -- everything from invention and ingenuity, to reading lips, to integration of baseball, pop culture, Wheaties boxes, 'Bull Durham,' and all the magic that brings baseball to life outside the playing field. So fans will see how baseball and American culture have been intertwined every step of the way. And the Museum of Science has some great additional features that will bring the interactive and science angle to the sport like never before. So even if fans have been to Cooperstown, what they'll see in Boston in 'Baseball As America' is a real emotional and educational trip through baseball history."
And on this night, fans got to see a little bit of history that spanned several generations, from Doerr, who as a 19-year-old went 3-for-5 in his first game, on April 20, 1937, to the accomplishments of Lester, Varitek and Ramirez 71 seasons later.
"It is special," said Horn. "And for the Hall of Famers to represent ... Eddie Murray not having played for the Red Sox, but the others, too. They're great living legends for Red Sox fans and Red Sox players to look up to. It's great to be able to bring them en masse to the ballpark on one night. And our Hall of Famers get as big a kick out of it as the fans and today's players. They love seeing today's players. They love being back in the dugout. They love being on the field. So it's a charge for the entire process, and it shows how baseball is so dependent on its history. Few other sports can evoke the emotion of Carlton Fisk showing up at Fenway Park as baseball."
To see photos from Jason's interview prior to the ceremony, click here.