Chicago Cubs Through the Ages exhibit opens August 3 at township museum

The Westchester Township History Museum will open a new temporary exhibit “Chicago Cubs Through the Ages” on Aug. 3. The museum, which is an educational service of Westchester Public Library, is open free of charge, 1 – 5 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday in the historic Brown Mansion at 700 W. Porter Ave., Chesterton.

“Chicago Cubs Through the Ages” will run through the entire month of August. It is sponsored by Vintage Base Ball This Week, a radio show based at the WVLP 98.3 FM studios in Valparaiso. The exhibit will chronicle the history of the Chicago Cubs from its inception in the 1870s through the current club.

Artifacts will include uniforms and equipment used by Artie “Circus Solly” Hofman, 1907 and 1908 World Series Champion Cubs; sluggers Ron Santo, Larry Bittner, Bill Buckner, Ron Cey, Andre Dawson, George Bell and Jeremy Burnitz; all-star pitchers Frank DiPino, Bob Howry and Ryan Dempster; hall-of-famers Hack Wilson and Ryne Sandberg; Cubs and Indiana University star Mickey Morandini; speedster Juan Pierre; and current all-star nominees Felix Pie and Geovany Soto. There will be other equipment as well, including one of the original seats from Wrigley Field and the Cubs-on-deck circle from Shea Stadium.

Jason Kladiva, one of the radio hosts on Vintage Base Ball This Week will guest curate the Cubs exhibit. Join Kladiva on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. to hear him discuss items in his exhibit and answer questions about collecting baseball memorabilia. For more information call the museum at 983-9715.

Posted 7/30/2008