Countdown to Opening Day!

BASEBALL GAZETTE

August 26, 2021

Just a week ago, exhibits began arriving at the Tampa Baseball Museum, and the final transformation of Al Lopez's childhood home began. As the fabricators carried in pieces of cabinets, graphics, and artifacts and started assembling the exhibits, the reality of our eight-year dream began to unfold before our very eyes. What was a nearly empty space inside a rehabilitated 1905 house is quickly becoming a place for education and inspiration... a place to celebrate baseball. Now, 30 days and counting to opening day, we can't wait to share our new museum on September 25th. Please join us in dedicating this cultural asset, built with grassroots effort and community support. Our thanks to all who have contributed our dream, and we hope yours. ~Chantal Ruilova Hevia, President and CEO

Baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray.

It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

Oh... people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.

Terrance Mann to Ray Kinsella in "Field of Dreams"

Sneak Peek

Watching the installation of seven new exhibits in the last week has been somewhat like seeing a giant puzzle come together, piece by piece, artifact upon artifact. What we have been looking at and reviewing on paper for many months is now becoming a larger-than-life three dimensional story representing 135 years of Tampa's iconic baseball heritage.

The photos at left show the installation of two exhibits in progress. At top, you see the beginnings of the Early Days of Baseball in Tampa, which includes The Cuban Connection, League of Our Own, Days of Discrimination and Segregation, and The Inter-Social League. The bottom photo shows a small part of the Early Days exhibit, as well as the Al Lopez Field exhibit being installed. To the right is one of the Al Lopez exhibits, which is complete.

Generations have long relished the bonds formed over a game called baseball. The sport played a major role in shaping the Tampa Bay community and integrating the wide range of cultures and heritage in our region. The roots run deep, steeped in tradition. When the Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House opens on September 25th, these bonds will continue with a new generation of players, fans, and a history yet to be made!

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

10 AM - 1 PM: HOMERUNS & HISTORY

Games and Activities at Centennial Park &

Garden of the Ybor City Museum State Park

Half-Price Admissions to Tampa Baseball Museum

Presented in partnership with Ybor City Saturday Market and Ybor City Museum State Park

10 AM: GRAND OPENING CEREMONY AT TAMPA BASEBALL MUSEUM

Lou Piniella, Honorary Host

Mayor Jane Castor

Commissioner Pat Kemp

All events are open to the public and FREE except museum tours.

Our Generous Sponsors

Title Sponsor

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John & Carol Calacino ▪ Robert Lotane ▪ Joel Overton ▪ Raymond Herrero

Tell Me More About Sponsorships

Become a Charter Member

Free Chance Drawing for Two Tickets to a Rays Game

Get the Home Team Advantage. Charter Membership are now available and come with and a specially designed membership card and the prestige of being permanently recognized on all Charter Membership listings. Those who join before Opening Day on September 25, 2021 also receive early access to the museum in advance of the opening. Scheduling begins in the next few days.

Only six days remaining to be entered into the drawing! Become a Charter Member by August 31, 2021 and your name will be entered into a chance drawing for two tickets to a Tampa Bay Rays game in September. Tickets include Home Plate Club seating and all you can eat and drink. The higher your level of membership, the more chances you have to win. Tickets are compliments of Assorted Design, assorteddesign.com.

Get in the game with an annual membership at one of five benefit levels. Memberships provide critical support for our mission to preserve and honor Tampa’s unique historic role in the game of baseball and make it possible for us to present educational experiences and exhibits that enrich the community. As a member, you will receive unlimited admission to the Museum year-round, discounts on events and merchandise, and more.

Join Now! Even though you will immediately begin receiving benefits, we won't begin the countdown to your

365 day period of membership until October 1. Charter Memberships are only available through December 31, 2021.

Charter Memberships

Artifact Fun

After the final revival of the Minor League Baseball team, the Tampa Smokers returned to Tampa as a charter member of the Florida International League and played at Plant Field next to what is now The University of Tampa. This scorebook was only 10¢ and was sponsored by Southern Brewing Company, which was one of six other breweries in Tampa at the time. The Tampa Smokers were host to several players who would then go on to play in the Major Leagues such as Jim Bagby, Camilo Pascual, and most famously “El Señor” himself, Al Lopez.

Making this big break allowed Al Lopez to not only quit his job delivering bread at the Ferlita Bakery (now the Ybor City Museum State Park), but also helped provide for his family with the new income. Lopez played for the Smokers for two seasons before he was signed to the Brooklyn Robins, now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming Tampa’s first Major League Baseball player.

WITH GRATITUDE

The Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House represents a community effort that includes grassroots support, cash and in-kind gifts of every size, City and County grants, and the time and talents of our Board of Trustees and staff. Thank you to all our fans who have generously donated to this ambitious project throughout the years. With your help, we are at the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded. Please help us bring it home by making a donation of any size, which will be matched 100% by a Hillsborough County Historic Preservation grant, doubling the impact of your gift. We also have naming rights opportunities for those who would like their gift to be acknowledged on an exhibit. Opening day is just four weeks away!

Please consider making a donation today!

Contact info@tampabaseballmuseum.org or 813.247.1434.

DONATE

Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

Chair Stephanie Agliano

Vice Chair Amy Waite,

Secretary Steve Hovsepian

Treasurer Robert Smedley,

Immediate Past Chair Patrick Venable

President & CEO Chantal Hevia

Member at Large Vinny Dolan

Member at Large Lynn Kroesen

Trustees

Lee Bell

Dr. Keith Berry

Brian Breseman

Lissette Campos

Anthony "Tony" Carreño

James Howard

Larry McCabe

Luciano Prida

Wes Singletary, Ph.D.

The Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House is owned by the Ybor City Museum Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID No. 59-2274494. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent the law allows.