Symposium Time

The 18th annual Cooperstown Symposium, my seventh, was jam packed with great topics. Usually there's at least one concurrent session in which none of the three offerings are of interest and that's when I make my cruise up and down Main Street to check out the stores, but this year not a one. Every concurrent session had at least one presentation I really wanted to hear, usually two so I had to make a decision one which to attend. Felt like a coin toss was gonna be necessary some times.

The focus was on race, with the keynote being offered by a Negro Leagues scholar and two former Negro Leagues players, both charming older gentlemen, and a special exhibit in the Barry Halper Gallery at the Hall of art commissioned by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to celebrate and interpret the sport. Powerful works included in that show, which has been touring the country. (If you know of a venue that might be well served by the exhibit, have them contact the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City .

The Town Ball game was called on account of rain and the picnic was held under a tent in the middle of a muddy pasture. Casey, of course, was there to recite his tale of woe and we all sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." I was delighted that this year the alternate version of Casey was Garrison Keillor's version, as seen by Mudville's opponents.

There were a lot of new faces at the Symposium this year, record registrations were received. It's always a pleasure to see people from past gatherings, but it's great to get new blood and new enthusiasm into the mix.