Category Archives: Public News

Opening March 10, 2017, The Hockey Hall of Fame unveils this limited-time exhibition is an immersive tribute to 100 years of NHL hockey, highlighting the most memorable players and moments in league history.

The NHL’s 100 Greatest Players, as selected by an NHL-appointed panel, are featured through treasured artifacts and video vignettes. Items on display include the stick used by Wayne Gretzky to score his NHL single-season record 92nd goal in 1982, the gloves worn by Sidney Crosby to capture the 2009 Stanley Cup, the stick used by Jean Beliveau to record his final career goal in 1971, Gordie Howe’s 700th goal puck from 1968 , the jersey worn by Mario Lemieux in the 1992 Stanley Cup Final, Bobby Orr’s infamous knee brace, Jacques Plante’s iconic goalie mask and Maurice “Rocket” Richard’s Order of Canada.

Plus, on display for the first time, is the original Minute Book of the National Hockey League – the only behind-the-scenes account of hockey’s forefathers and their task in shaping the NHL from its inception in 1917.

BALTIMORE, MD – The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation (BRBF) announces that, after 35 years as the BRBF’s only Executive Director in the 45 years of the Foundation, Mike Gibbons passes the baton – or is it ‘bat?’ – to Deputy Executive Director, Shawn Herne. Gibbons remains on board at the BRBF as Director Emeritus & Historian, overseeing all curatorial, archival and exhibit development projects.

“As we prepare to launch a new showcase of Maryland’s sports heritage, the Board could not be more pleased about this seamless evolution in leadership,” said Chairman, Board of Directors of the BRBF, John Moag. “We are tremendously grateful that Mike will continue to provide the leadership, expertise, and historical reference that has guided us for so many years.  Mike has been a superb mentor to Shawn who is uniquely capable of standing in Mike’s shoes.”

“Mike’s leadership over the last 35 years has been invaluable to the Foundation – he took a tiny shrine about a hometown-boy-turned-baseball-giant and manifested it into a leading sports heritage attraction,” said Shawn Herne. “It is an honor, and great responsibility, to be named Executive Director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation and I fully embrace the passion Mike has had for the Museum and will continue to innovate and grow the Foundation with the same kind of fervor that Mike has demonstrated over the years.”

Between 1982, when Gibbons volunteered to organize a makeover of the Babe Ruth Birthplace, a time when annual attendance dipped to roughly 2,000 visitors, and 1992 – nine years after he was named Executive Director of the BRBM – Gibbons increased annual attendance to 60,000. In addition, through the Foundation, Gibbons raised $265,000 to create new exhibits on Ruth and the Orioles, as well as the six Marylanders enshrined in Cooperstown.

“As we welcome my longtime colleague and friend, Shawn Herne, to his new role as Executive Director of the Foundation, I want to thank our board, staff and other advocates of the Babe Ruth Museum for making these past 35 years so very memorable and enjoyable,” said Mike Gibbons. “As our institution transitions to the future, I look to contribute to the development of a new venue for our Sports Legends collection, and to other programs and exhibits that can benefit and strengthen our mission.”

Shawn M. Herne, Executive Director,

Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Baltimore

Shawn M. Herne has worked developing and administering museum exhibits and programs that are exciting and engaging, believing that the best visitor experiences come from museum elements that provoke thought and conversation.  For over twelve years he served as the Chief Curator of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and Sports Legends Museum.  Prior to rejoining the Babe Ruth Museum in 2016, Mr. Herne served as Executive Director of the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Maryland.  He has taught railroad history for the University of Baltimore and published The Railroad Timekeepers, a book on railroad timekeeping.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Museum Association and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums and for eight years on the board of the International Sports Heritage Association.

Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Baltimore

The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to perpetuating Maryland’s storied sports heritage. The mission is executed through celebration and preservation of the historic legacy of Baltimore-born Babe Ruth, the Baltimore Orioles and Colts and Baltimore Ravens, as well as local and regional sports at the amateur, collegiate and various professional levels.

 

Our entire nation will be celebrating 150 years of confederation in 2017, but for Canada’s horse racing industry, this year represents an even bigger anniversary, the 250th Anniversary of our great sport in this great land.

On July 1, 1767, exactly 100 years before our country’s confederation, a race took place on The Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. Gazette de Quebec recounted the race as follows:

“The horse race for a purse of forty dollars was held on Wednesday, first of the month, on the Hill of Abraham. It was easily won by Captain Prescott’s mare Modesty, much to the discomfiture of those who, purporting to know about such things, had wagered against her and were thereby parted from their money.”

From that day forward horse racing has been part of the fabric of our country. From coast to coast, for generation after generation, people from all walks of life have participated in and enjoyed the sport, whether on grass-root tracks, at agricultural fairs, on frozen rivers dotting the countryside, or in today’s modern facilities.

Wagers have been made, crowds have cheered, champions have been crowned.
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is partnering with the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, and Standardbred Canada to create a series of celebrations of this spectacular milestone throughout 2017.

Today we announce the launch of the ‘250 miles for 250 years’ initiative and 250th Anniversary of Horse Racing in Canada funding campaign.

Racetracks, training centres, agricultural societies, communities, farms and fans are invited to take part in honouring Canada’s racing history by hosting a commemorative mile.
Miles in honour of the 250th Anniversary could include:

– Hold a 250th Anniversary race day highlighting your track and community’s racing history and feature a race and special cooler presentation in honour of the 250th Anniversary.
– Post parades or exhibition races using antique race bikes and buggies harkening back to days gone by.
– Participate in a community parade with a float or entry that represents local horse racing history. The miles of the parade can count as commemorative miles.
– Hold an open house at your training centre or farm, invite the public to visit and experience what horse racing is all about, display memorabilia and trophies representing your
accomplishments and history, offer rides around the training track, hold stick horse races for the kids.
– Contact your local agricultural society about participating in this year’s fair or festival and help them showcase the role horse racing has played in your community.

Be creative, tell us what your plans to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Horse Racing in Canada are. We’ll publicize your event on the 250th Anniversary pages of the CHRHF website, as well as the special 250th Anniversary social media feeds using #cdnhorseracing250. To help you with your event, you will be provided a 250th Anniversary kit containing 250th Anniversary logos, advertising and press release templates, and much more.

In order to make this a truly national celebration, we need your help to fund the initiatives. To date industry associations HBPA Ontario, COSA, Harness Racing BC and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame have agreed to contribute funds to the 250th Anniversary efforts and we are working with other industry organizations across Canada to help meet our fundraising goals. We invite you to take a look at how you can become a 250th Anniversary of Horse Racing Celebration supporter as a sponsor or by making a tax deductible donation. Follow this link for complete details.

Watch for upcoming announcements for details of local launch events at racetracks across Canada.
For additional Information contact:

[email protected]
Stacie Roberts – 416-230-5190
Linda Rainey – 416-417-9404
www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women’s basketball and host of the 2017 International Sports Heritage Association Annual Conference (Oct. 17-20), is located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. The conference is titled, Shoot for the “Summitt”, and the ISHA Conference Committee is currently working diligently to build an entertaining and educational program.

Knoxville is often described as a hidden gem sitting at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. First-time visitors are typically amazed by all this city has to offer. The fact that some of its most appealing attractions are within walking distance of a very vibrant downtown is a plus. Very few places offer the opportunity to experience live music, culture, outdoor adventure, eclectic shopping and highly acclaimed cuisine in one unique location.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame opened in June 1999 and its mission is to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball. With the 2017 Induction, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will celebrate its 19th Anniversary and add six new members to this prestigious Hall, honoring 157 inductees. The outside of the striking 32,000 square foot Hall of Fame is encompassed by the world’s largest basketball which weighs 10 tons and sits on top of a glass staircase that resembles a basketball net. Inside the hall is filled with multiple interactive displays, numerous basketball artifacts, photographs, scrapbooks, medals, trophies, and old uniforms that bring the history of women’s basketball to life. There is something for everyone to love about the Hall of Fame.

With the conference committee working and planning a terrific program, start planning your trip to the 2017 ISHA conference. The conference brochure and registration will be available around June 1, 2017. The host hotel for the conference is the downtown Knoxville Marriott, adjacent to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Four major airlines serve Knoxville’s airport (McGhee Tyson TYS) and is located only 15 minutes from the Hall. So please start making plans to join us for the 2017 ISHA Annual Conference in East Tennessee, where you will enjoy some southern hospitality, a slower pace, some smooth spirits and a relaxed way of life. Come as a stranger and leave as a friend.

 

The 49ers Museum presented by SONY, at Levi’s® Stadium, has a brand new exhibit acknowledging the members of the 49ers organization that have served the military. The opening of the exhibit coincided with the team’s “Salute to Service” game on November 6. “Salute to Service” is an annual initiative of National Football League wherein all 32 teams dedicate a home game to celebration of members of the United States Armed Forces.

The exhibit, “Gridiron Heroes: The Stories of the 49ers Military Veterans,” explores the experiences of 49ers players, coaches, and executives to honor their service and sacrifice and how their football careers were interrupted, delayed, and even initiated by their time in the service. Nearly every member of the 49ers inaugural team in 1946 had contributed to the war in some way, most through active service in the United States Armed Forces. Though the majority of 49ers who served our country did so during World War II, many others served during the conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. For these soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen, football remained a passion shared amongst servicemen of all ranks and occupations.


This photo is a prominent feature of the exhibit with the members of the inaugural 1946 San Francisco 49ers distinguished by the different branch of the United States Armed Forces they served.

Members of the Navy – Shaded Blue
Members of the Marine Corps- Shaded Red
Members of the Army- Shaded Dark Green
Members of the Army Air Forces- Shaded Gold

The Hockey Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the launch of its Personalized Tour App for iOS and Android devices. The Tour App offers over 50 customized tours based on individual NHL teams, countries and positions, as well as a tribute to women’s hockey, stories that inspire and surprise, plus scavenger hunts and games. Throughout the app, users have the ability to instantly capture and share their experience via social media and save their favourite moments during their Hall visit.

Visit Apple Store & Google Play to download

The year 2017 will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

In 1957, the “Alberta Amateur Sports Hall of Fame” was founded by the Alberta Branch of Athletic Union of Canada.  The following year of 1958, welcomed the first inductees and Honoured Members  — Charles Cheesman, George Sutherland, Hugh Sloan, and Wilf Greaves.  In the beginning, the Hall of Fame only recognized seven sports including; track and field, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, fencing, handball, and gymnastics. The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame now recognizes over 75 sports.

The first display was created in 1964 at the Molson’s Edmonton House. After the long journey moving the Hall of Fame around the province for years, we are proud to now have a permanent facility located on the west side of Red Deer, Alberta.

The 60th Anniversary Celebrations will bring together many of our Honoured Members at the annual Induction Banquet, held on Friday, May 26 in Red Deer.  This will be a time to celebrate the men and women who have distinguished themselves as pioneers, athletes, and builders of sport in Alberta.

We will also be celebrating our 25th Anniversary Golf Tournament Fundraiser on August 10th at the Innisfail Golf course.  We invite everyone to enjoy a day on the course with our Honoured Members.

There will be several Special Events held throughout the year to celebrate and honour our accomplishments over the past 60 years.

Check our website and social media to celebrate our 60th Anniversary with us!

Induction Baquet: ashfm.ca/events/induction-banquet
Golf Tournament: ashfm.ca/events/golf-tournament

The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will continue to grow and enhance their collection of artifacts with the support and funding from the Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program.

Kim Shreiner, MLA Red Deer North, presented Donna Hateley, Managing Director of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, with a cheque to assist with the renovation costs and improvements to the collections room which stores all the historical sports equipment, trophies, photographs and much more.

“We are out of space and there is so much more sports history that we would like to be able to preserve for years to come.  With the CFEP funding, we will be able to add an open mezzanine floor to accommodate future growth of our collections. We will also be able to incorporate tours of the collection area into our Beyond the Classroom Education.”

The renovations to the collections room will begin in the new year and will be a huge undertaking. Over 14,000 items will be catalogued, carefully wrapped and properly packed, then stored off-site during these renovations.  A project this big would not be possible without the ability to apply for funding through different sources, including the Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program.