Exhibit opens December 14th and runs through 2019 baseball season
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum will open its new exhibit, titled “Pain, Protection and Performance: The Evolution of Baseball Equipment presented by Rawlings,” today.
The exhibit, replacing last year’s “Goodwill through Baseball: Cardinals Across the Pacific” exhibition, will examine the role of equipment in the “National Pastime” while also showing how various pieces of gear have changed since the beginning of the sport in the 1800s.
“This special exhibit includes some fantastic and peculiar items from our collection, in addition to several important pieces on loan from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and other collections,” Paula Homan, Cardinals Museum curator said.
According to the news release, “Pain, Protection and Performance” features over 100 artifacts relating to the history of baseball equipment. Guests of the museum will see an original fingerless glove from 1883, Stan Musial’s trapper-style mitt which helped him transition between first base and the outfield during the 1940s, the cleats that Fernando Tatis wore when he hit an MLB record two grand slams in one inning and more.
“It’s really remarkable to see how far the equipment has progressed as players seek to improve their performance and safety,” Homan said.
Guests of the museum will see a display of Rawlings Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Awards with an “interactive kiosk” to create and order their own custom Rawlings glove. There is also “in-depth features” on players and gear that guests can enjoy by using augmented reality via the MLB Ballpark App.
The Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during the offseason. The exhibition will be open to the public through the conclusion of the 2019 baseball season and is included with admission to the museum.
To purchase Cardinal Museum tickets visit cardinals.com/museum.