Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2018 PIKE PUBLISHING 7E there," Howard added. "That's prob- ably one of the prized items that we have in here." The Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame also features uniforms and various other items from many of its inductees. "People will come to see the plaques, but what else are they go- ing to see? " Howard said. "So that's when we started collecting baseballs and bats, and hats and pictures, and uniforms and jerseys, and things of that nature that we have now." "We've received items from the first black player that ever played for Cincinnati – Charlie Harmon over at Washington," Howard added. "We have his uniform and his cleats, and his glove and his bat." The Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame also has displays featuring Jasper native Scott Rolen, an eight- time Gold Glove Award winner and seven-time All-Star who played third base for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds, and Evansville native Don Mattingly, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner and six-time All-Star who played first base for the New York Yankees and is currently in his second sea- son as manager of the Miami Mar- lins after five seasons as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. "You just ask for things and, most of the time, they're usually pretty gener- ous with things of that nature, when they know where it's going," Howard said. Many of the displays feature a touch button screen that visitors can press and listen to a description of what they are viewing. "People don't like to stand and read, so at each of the displays, you can just push a button and it'll tell you what you're watching," Howard said. "For example, for Scott Rolen, you punch the button and it'll give you a brief history about Scott and where he's played. The same thing with Don Mattingly. We also have one about each of the inductees that are in Cooperstown. You can punch beside their face on the screen, and it'll tell you about them." "You listen instead of having to read a placard or something that we'd have to get prepared," Howard added. "That's been a good thing for us, and for the people. They comment a lot that it was good to punch a button and listen rather than have to read something." One of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame's most popular features is the "You Make the Call" interactive chal- lenge, Howard said. "You're actually looking at a right-handed pitcher or a left-handed pitcher ... and you make the ball – ball or strike," Howard said. "We've set it up where you can be judged. You may be good – you may even be a major leaguer – or they may tell you, you need to go to umpiring school." "There's a lot of competition that goes on with that," Howard added. "You'd be surprised – sometimes the men and their wives get there and they find out she's not too bad an umpire." In addition, the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame features a kiosk where visitors can view highlights from high school state championship games dating as far back as the first state tournament in 1967. "That's pretty interesting to people," Howard said. "If they played in one, they might see themselves on the screen, or if they're coaches and they've told their kids they played, and kids don't believe them, they can show them, 'There I am.'" Another display features the rosters and the scores for each of the All-Star games since they began in 1975. The Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame – located at 851 College Avenue – is open Thursday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern time, during the VUJC school year, from mid- August to early May. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern time, during the university's spring break and summer vacation. For more information about the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame, call 812-482-2262, e-mail rajahoward@ psci.net, write Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame c/o Ray Howard, 1436 Leopold St., Jasper, IN 47546, or visit www.indbaseballhalloffame.org. Leopold Christmas Parade December 2 Leopold, Perry County Downtown Leopold. For more information call 812-547-7933. Mouse House December 4 Winslow, Pike County It's Santa! Meet the big guy at 9 a.m. at Winslow Nazarene Church. For more information call 812-789 -2332. Christmas at Grouseland December 7 Vincennes, Knox County Built in 1803, Grouseland is the mansion of the former Indiana Territorial Governor and 9th U.S. President, William Henry Harrison. Come, relax and enjoy a traditional Christmas at the Governor's mansion by candle- light and retire home as a hush falls over historic Vincennes and the footsteps of long ago seem to echo in the quiet streets remind- ing us of the legacy left behind. This festive living history event features re-enactors from the time of Harrison's governorship. Enjoy music, decorations, re- freshments and carriage rides! There is no admission charge but donations are gratefully ac- cepted. For more information call 812-882-2096. Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra "Handel's Messiah" December 7 Evansville, Vanderburgh County $23 in advance and $25 at the door. Trinity United Methodist Evansville at 7 p.m. Holiday Gift Show December 8 Marengo, Crawford County Showcases crafters and unique handmade items. Held at Craw- ford Co. High School. South Knox Elementary School Craft Show December 8 Verne, Knox County South Knox Elementary School. Candlelight Tour – Little Shubael Village December 8 Cannelton, Perry County The 1905 Millstone School, all five cabins, blacksmith and car- penter shops, jail and country store will feature hosts or host- esses serving food from the era. A fireplace or wood-burning stove will provide heat in each building. The village will be decked with handmade orna- ments. Visitors are encouraged to take their own candles or kerosene lanterns. Trails will be lit with candle lanterns. Holly Walk December 8 Petersburg, Pike County Downtown shops will host a jolly affair including sales, carriage rides, story telling and more. For more information call 812- 354-9372. Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" with EPO December 15-16 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Evansville Ballet December 15 at 7 p.m. and December 16 at 2 p.m. Silversternacht December 31 Tell City, Perry County Bring in the New Year here in Tell City. Many fun activities for the family! . For more informa- tion call 812-547-7025. Pictured above are bats from the Wall of State Championship Bats honoring each of the state's high school champions dating back to the first state tournament in 1967. Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame executive director Ray Howard stands in an area where plaques featuring each of the inductees have been placed on the walls. Howard, a former high school baseball coach, was in- ducted in 1990. An exhibit honoring National Base- ball Hall of Famer Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown can be found in one corner of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. LOCAL ONLINE RESOURCES Chamber of Commerce of SW Indiana ccswin.com Daviess County Visitor's Bureau daviesscounty.net Dubois County Visitors Center visitduboiscounty.com Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau visitevansville.com Explore Southern Indiana exploresouthernindiana.com Ferdinand Tourism Commission ferdinandindiana.org French Lick West Baden visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau gibsoncountyin.org Historic New Harmony usi.edu/hnh/index.php Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce huntingburgchamber.org Indiana's Official Travel Planning Source VisitIndiana.com Jasper Chamber of Commerce jasperin.org Orange County HomeGrown orangecountyhomegrown.org Pike County Chamber of Commerce pikecountyin.org Spencer County Visitors Bureau legendaryplaces.org Southern Indiana Regional Marketing Co-Op's Southern Indiana Trip Guide southernindiana.org Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau vincennescvb.org Warrick County Chamber of Commerce visitwarrick.com DECEMBER 2018

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