FULLERTON, Calif. – After signing and playing with professional baseball team the Sonoma Stompers this fall, Cal State Fullerton freshman outfielder Kelsie Whitmore will be featured in multiple exhibits at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Whitmore's game-used bat and helmet, along with a signed baseball by her and teammates Stacy Piagno and Anna Kimbrell will be included within the "Today's Game" exhibit case that features the most recent artifacts and/or pieces acquired by the Hall of Fame.
"Having my own baseball bat, helmet and signed ball in the Hall of Fame is such an honor," Whitmore said. "I'm so excited and thankful to have been asked to have my own belongings going to the most historic place."
The bat and ball will be on short-term display in early 2017 as the museum is installing a "Whole New Ballgame" exhibit, which will take a look back on the past 40 years of baseball and move all the way to present day.
Once the museum acquires new artifacts, either the bat or ball will be moved to a permanent position in the Hall of Fame's "Women in Baseball" exhibit, giving Whitmore a prestigious spot in Cooperstown forever.
"At first I didn't believe that they wanted my baseball equipment in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame," Whitmore said. "I was just simply honored that they wanted a part of me with them."
The helmet Whitmore used with the Stompers will also be included in a traveling exhibit with the Hall of Fame as they plan on including the item in a mini-exhibit that will be brought on the road to the 2017 All-Star Game Fan Fest in Miami, Florida.
Whitmore became the youngest player in team-history when she signed with the Stompers last fall and collected her first big league hit on July 20 and recorded her first run and RBI on Aug. 13.
Come out and watch Whitmore and the rest of the Titan softball team in their home opener on Feb. 10 against Pacific and Ole Miss at 4/6:30 p.m. PT.
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Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
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