Dale Petroskey President of the Baseball Hall of Fame

[CuseCubFan69]

Dale Petroskey, the President of the National Baseball Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has graciously agreed to do a question and answer with the NSBB community! Here's a little bio on Dale

 

He became the fifth president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in July 1999. He oversees the 66-year-old national shrine dedicated to preserving Baseball history and the story of it's role in American Culture.

 

Prior to joining the Hall of Fame, he served at the National Geographical Society for 11 years, the last three as Senior Vice President for Mission Programs. From 1985-1987, he served in the White House as Assistant Press Secretary to President Reagan. He graduated from Michigan St.

[NCCubFan]

Since the Veterans Committee was restructured they have had two elections (2003 and 2005) without electing anybody either time. As a result Ron Santo and other players arguably deserving election who somehow slipped through the cracks when eligible for election by the writers aren't getting in. Has there been any discussion of restructuring again, in terms of the makeup of the Committee and/or going back to annual voting?

[CuseCubFan69]

Dale, thanks for taking our questions!

 

I was wondering about the debate between Cooperstown and New Jersey and if the issue has been settled on who was the "first'" to invent baseball?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Thanks for taking out questions. I made my first trip to Cooperstown last summer during Ryno's induction and it was marvelous!

 

First, with all the memorabilia the HOF has accumulated, how do you decide what will be displayed and what will not be displayed? How often are the exhibits changed?

 

Secondly, who makes the decision as to what will appear on a player's plaque?

 

Third, if someone wanted to research through the HOF archives, what are the steps to obtaining permission to do so?

[Jon]

What do you think of the allegiance split between individual players and teams when it comes to Cooperstown? Is it balanced or do the HOFers overshadow their organizations? In the same sense, what is your impression of the average baseball fan? Are they more attached to the player, to the team, or perhaps to the sport?

 

Thanks for your time.

[Roast]

So, tell me. What is it like to work in heaven?

 

Do you get to meet any/all of the (living) players enshrined there?

[USSoccer]

Thanks for taking time to answer our questions.

 

How do you go about preserving some of the older pieces in the HOF, and preventing deterioration?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Thanks for stopping by Dale!

 

Who's your favorite Major League team?

 

What's the most bizarre situation you've had to deal with as President of the HOF?

[Neuby]

How does the hall of fame keep everything secure and safe from theft and fire ect?

[rocket]

What are the specific requirements/qualifications that a baseball writer must meet before they're allowed a hall of fame vote?

 

Any possibility of making the writers' hall of fame ballots public? That way, if a writer votes for someone like Walt Weiss, he/she can be publicly criticized for it, and maybe even get their vote taken away!

 

Thanks for your time.

[Mark Priors Calves]

What is the Hall of Fame's stance on Pete Rose? Everyone knows MLB's and Bud Selig's stance on the issue, what does the HOF say on the subject and personally, how do you feel about it?

 

Thank you.

[treebird]

Has there ever been any discussion of adding writers whose primary medium is electronic to the BBWAA?

[Outshined_One]

What do you think is the crown jewel of the HOF's collection?

[Chris]

Greetings, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

 

Has there ever been a piece of memorabilia that a player/organization was not willing to allow the HOF to have to put on display? If a player/organization is willing to provide an item to be displayed in the HOF, is it on loan or is that item permanently donated?

 

What are your comments on trading card companies purchasing rare pieces of memorabilia for the purpose of cutting them up to put on trading cards?

 

Is there a wish list of items that the HOF would like to have on display? If so, what are some of those items?

 

I'm sure it's tough to choose just one, but what is your favorite memory from your time spent as the President of the HOF?

 

Thanks!

[CuseCubFan69]

There are many different types of people that have had an impact in baseball other than the players and managers such as broadcasters and writers. Are there any other people out there that you would like to see added to the Hall that have had an indirect impact on the game?

 

Do you have any stories about Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins or Billy Williams that you would like to share with us?

[sethuel1]

How does one go from the National Geographical Society to the Baseball Hall of Fame? In fact, how do most people end up as administrators or other employees of the Baseball Hall of Fame? Is there a search commitee? Do the enshrined players have a role in it?

[sweetpeteman]

My question pertains to your time as Assistant Press Secretary under Reagan, I was just wondering what it was like working in the White House under him, and how you became involved in a job like that?