20th Annual Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture Begins Wednesday

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The 2008 Symposium will feature 17 panel discussions on topics ranging from baseball and the law to minority issues and music. This year's keynote speech will be given by Ira Berkow, the former New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter and author of more than two dozen books. The speech entitled, Impressions and Perspectives, What Makes a Hero?, will take place on Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Grandstand Theater and is open to all Museum visitors as well as Symposium participants.

"This event is unlike any other in the country. We explore baseball from a cultural standpoint rather than the game on the field," said Jim Gates, Hall of Fame Librarian. "We invite academics as well as students because we hope to encourage the next generation of baseball scholars."

On Friday morning, a panel will be held discussing Seasons Past and will feature Steve Jacobson, former daily baseball writer for Newsday in New York; Mitchell Nathanson, Villanova University; and Bruce Markusen, Cooperstown, N.Y. A special discussion on Baseball and Freedom: Umpires and the Roots of Order and Freedom will feature George Nicholson, Judge, Court of Appeals - State of California; William Shubb, Judge, United State District Court, Eastern District, California; Branch Rickey III, President, Pacific Coast League; Bob Motley, Umpire, Negro Leagues and Pacific Coast League; Vince Miles, Actor; Steve Gotan, Senior Analyst, United States District Court, Eastern District, California on Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Other panel discussions run from 2:15 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday at locations in and around the Museum. The Symposium features academics and presenters from across the country.

Admission for the keynote address is included for all Symposium participants. Registration fee for the 20th annual Cooperstown Symposium is $165 and includes all sessions, a daily continental breakfast, a catered picnic, refreshments and a three-day pass to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members can register for the three-day event for $150. Additionally, day passes will be sold for each day of the Symposium. A special student rate for undergraduate and graduate students is available for $50 with student ID for the three-day event. Registration is limited.

Registrations will be accepted onsite during the Symposium in the Library Atrium. A full schedule of Symposium events and presentations is available on-line by visiting http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/museum/symposium.jsp. For more information, please contact Hall of Fame Librarian Jim Gates at (607)547-0311.