Hockey, baseball and golf halls of fame and museums are a winner for visitors

   One-Tank Trip for May 4/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   “He shoots, he scores!”

   That phrase, coined by hockey play-by-play legend Foster Hewitt, was repeatedly heard during the era of superstars Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky.

   Now the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto pays homage to the most-prolific scorers with 9 & 99: The Howe-Gretzky Exhibition.

   Referring to their jersey numbers, this is an exhibit “unlike any other,” said Kelly Masse, director of corporate and media relations.

  Superstars Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky are being memorialized at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

    Visitors to the exhibition, on now through next March, can “witness the greatest compilation of milestone artifacts and rare personal memorabilia,” she added.

   Hall curators hand-picked the items from their family collections that reveal the “legacy and indelible bond of ‘Mr. Hockey (Howe)’ and ‘the Great One (Gretzky)’.”

   This comprehensive tribute explores how they transcended the game in their generations and highlights their Hall of Fame careers.

   On view are more than 150 historic artifacts that range from 1946’s Detroit Red Wings jacket presented to Howe as a signing bonus up to Gretzky’s final NHL game in 1999.

   Other items are Howe’s gloves from his first Stanley Cup (1952); Gretzky’s first pair of skates (early 1960s); Howe’s 2,000th point stick (1974-75); and Gretzky’s 2,000th point puck (1990-91).

Wayne Gretzky’s first pair of skates are on view at the Hockey Hall of Fame exhibition.

    There are other record-setting sticks and pucks all the way to Howe’s 801st goal (April 6, 1980) and Gretzky’s record-breaking 802nd goal stick and puck (March 23, 1994).

   Capping it all is Howe’s last All-Star Jersey (1980) in which he played with Gretzky and the Brantford superstar’s last game equipment (April 18, 1999).

   These historic artifacts help to “relive their magnificent careers while helping us preserve the history of hockey,” said vice-president Phil Pritchard.

   The hall is at Brookfield Place (30 Yonge St.) www.hhof.com; (416) 360-7765

   Play ball!

   The shrine to baseball has an expanded and renovated museum in St. Marys.

   The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s addition has interactive exhibits, an archive and resource library for its historic documents, said curator Scott Crawford, director of operations.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame has renovated its museum and opened an addition.

    It will serve as the new home of the Centre for Canadian Baseball Research.

   There have also been renovations to the original stone house museum that continues to showcase one-of-a-kind artifacts now in professionally designed displays.

   Calling it “an exciting new chapter,” board chair Adam Stephens said fans will better be able to learn about “Canada’s rich baseball history.”

   There’s also a new visitors’ lounge featuring a collection of original baseball artwork and videos of induction ceremonies.

An addition and renovations to the stone house museum tell the story of baseball.

    Upcoming is the hall’s annual ceremony from June 13 to 15 to honour former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash, coach Rob Thomson and former players Jason Bay and Ryan Dempster.

   The museum at 386 Church St. S. is open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays except for holidays. baseballhalloffame.ca; 1-877-250-BALL (2255).

   Fore!

   Golf aficionados can immerse themselves in all aspects of the game at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum in Oakville (1333 Dorval Drive).

   Operated by Golf Canada, visitors can discover more about the game and the hall’s inductees.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum honours “outstanding individuals of Canadian golf.”

    “It celebrates the outstanding individuals of Canadian golf” from players to builders, architects and others who have been “fundamental to the evolution of the game in this country.”

   Golfer Rod Spittle and coach Herb Page will be inducted into the hall on June 4.

   The museum is filled with golf clubs, trophies, pins, awards, balls, clothing and more as it “preserves, protects and promotes the evolving history of the game of golf in Canada.” cghf@golfcanada.ca; 1-800-263-0009

-30-

Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca