New exhibit highlights baseball's Japan-America connection

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will open a new exhibit in July. It is called “Yakyu | Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game.” This event will celebrate Ichiro Suzuki's induction into the Hall of Fame. Last weekend, officials held a press conference at the Tokyo Dome. Josh Rawitch, president of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, spoke alongside Masanobu Shoji and Bobby Valentine, who have rich histories in baseball. They shared exciting artifacts that will be part of the new exhibit. Among the items presented were several notable pieces of baseball history. These included Mike Hampton’s first pitch ball from a 2000 game against the Cubs, and a baseball from Roki Sasaki’s perfect game in 2022. Fans would also see Shohei Ohtani’s cap from the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and wristbands worn by Ichiro Suzuki for his record-setting hits in 2004. Additionally, a jersey worn by Mickey Mantle during a 1955 tour of Japan was featured, as well as a coat given to Lefty Gomez in 1934. The Cooperstown Hall will collaborate with other museums in Japan, such as the Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum, and The Museum of Hanshin Koshien Stadium for this exhibit.