National Ballpark Museum

A baseball flew through the air, a palpable connection to the past. Here at the National Ballpark Museum, time takes a curveball. The National Ballpark Museum isn’t just a museum. It’s a time capsule, a shrine to the history of baseball and its iconic ballparks. Originally known as B’s Ballpark Museum, the collection was recognized by Smithsonian Books as one of the top 20 finest private baseball collections in the world. The museum focuses on the unique treasures from the original 14 classic ballparks. It’s the only museum solely dedicated to ballparks. The museum’s founder, Bruce “B” Hellerstein, began his journey collecting baseball cards. A personal development course in his early thirties sparked a vision of his “perfect paradise,” which involved walking into a dream ballpark. This vision led him to start displaying his collection in his basement in the 1980s. He later achieved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in 1999 and secured the museum’s current location in 2010, changing the name to The National Ballpark Museum. Inside, you can wander through exhibits at your own pace. Passionate volunteers offer personal tours and discussions. You can even take photos with sections of the Green Monster from Fenway Park and the scoreboard from Wrigley Field. The museum houses unique artifacts. A rosin bag from the last game at Crosley Field, a lightbulb from Ebbets Field’s first night game in 1938, and a 1909 turnstile from Philadelphia’s Shibe Park. You can even see the arched window and cornerstone from Forbes Field, the former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Initially, the museum concentrated on ballpark memorabilia. Bruce painstakingly collected relics, bricks, postcards, jerseys, books, pictures, and more. Now the National Ballpark Museum boasts possibly the best collection of seats from all the classic ballparks, assembled in one place. As a third-generation Denver native, Bruce maintains a special exhibit dedicated to the history of the Denver Bears/Bears Stadium and the Colorado Rockies/Coors Field. It is considered the most comprehensive collection of its kind. This exhibit includes photos of players and the construction of Bears Stadium, autographed baseballs, uniforms, unique signage, programs, and vintage scrapbooks. It also showcases the collection of Jim Burris, known as “Mr. Denver Baseball,” who was a former President/General Manager of the Denver Bears. You’ll also find historical statistics of the Denver Bears, listing team affiliations, legendary players, and future Hall of Fame players. The museum also features displays from the historically significant barnstorming games played at Denver’s Merchants Park. These games featured Major League stars like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and greats of the Negro Leagues. Among the unique collectibles is an autographed game-used ball from Merchants Park, signed by both Ruth and Gehrig, and even a Babe Ruth autobiography signed and addressed to a former owner of the Bears and Merchants Park. The National Ballpark Museum truly captures the spirit and history of baseball.