[THIS POSTING ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON ESPN HERE ON 4/30/11; excluding the picture here]

This past weekend, I visited baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. This was not my first time there, but it was my first trip with my two sons, now ages 11 and 8. I was curious to see the Hall in a different way, through the eyes of my children.

I left thinking about the official name of the building – the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. I left realizing that the official name of the building – the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum – has a very big word in the middle of it that most people seem to ignore: “and“. Mostly I write about the building from a distance, and when I do, I focus on the first part of the building’s name, about who should be admitted into the Hall and who should not. But when I am present inside of the building, the museum part of the building takes over. I certainly enjoy the plaques but for me, the real interest lies in reliving the moments that first drew me to the game and then those that have kept me wrapped in its clutches since.

I paused at the museum’s display of the hate mail (see picture to the right; click to enlarge) directed at Jackie Robinson and was left slackjawed. The violence expressed in these letters is a part of our history, a tragic part, but a part that needs to be remembered. These were not proud moments for America or for baseball. However, we need to see and remember the good and the bad.

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The first part of my Hall of Fame pictures series featured the scouting reports from two all time greats, before we knew them. The second part was some of the Yankees stuff.  This part, part three, will highlight some of the best players of the 1970′s/’80′s. Leading off, the great Rollie Fingers (as with all of these, click to enlarge to full size):

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