A Baseball Museum in NYC?

By Dusty Writes

April 4, 2026

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SSTN recently had an interesting article about relocating the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum to a more convenient location.

Of all the states in the US, New York has been by far the most successful state in the country as far as producing world championship baseball teams. New York has had more of the greatest players in baseball history than any other state. More innovations have come out of NY than any other state. You could make the argument that if you put together the greatest players in New York history, they may have a better team than the best players combined in all the other states.

Whether or not, the Hall of Fame moves, there should be a museum in a convenient location, probably somewhere in Manhattan entirely devoted to only New York baseball teams.

Most fans don't know about the New York teams from the 1800s, including some that started before the Civil War, such as the New York Knickerbockers, New York Mutuals, New York Gothams, Brooklyn Atlantics, and Brooklyn Excelsiors. The artifacts, photos and memorabilia of this time period would be a fascinating exhibit for fans. An explanation of the rules back in those days would be very interesting and educational to many fans as well.

Many players throughout a team's history make significant contributions to championship teams but are not given enough credit. Many times a player doesn't accomplish enough to have his number retired, receive a plaque, or be voted into his team's Hall of Fame (or Monument Park). The museum I suggest, however, would have a section dedicated to the legendary moments such as Bobby Thomson's dramatic home run against the Dodgers in 1951 to win the pennant. 

Many fans don't even know who Johnny Kucks was, but he pitched an incredible shutout in Game 7 of the 1956 World Series at  Ebbets Field against a powerful Dodger lineup that was one of the best lineups in history. Kucks also had to pitch that game against 27-game winner and Cy Young Award winner, Don Newcombe. Pitching in one of the most important games in Yankees history, this museum could dedicate a section to Kucks and the rest of that Yankees team.

It would be great to have a New York museum with statues, plaques, film clips, statistics, etc. of the greatest players in the city's history. Fans of all the New York teams would find something of interest. Exhibits of Christy Mathewson, Mel Ott, Bill Terry, John McGraw, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider and so many others.

There could be a statistical comparison and exhibit of one of the greatest debates of all time: Who was the best centerfielder in NY in the 1950s, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Duke Snider? 

This museum be even be large enough to include other NY sports, such as football, basketball, hockey, and soccer.

Of note, the Cincinnati Reds have a fantastic museum dedicated to their team's history. The Cardinals have an excellent team museum. It is amazing that there isn't a museum dedicated to New York.