USSSA SPORTS MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME

The first induction into the USSSA Hall of Fame occurred in 1979, and though a 13,000 square foot building was purchased in 1980, some time would pass until there was an actual brick and mortar museum to honor these individuals. The purchase and renovations to the soon to be 24,000 square foot colonial styled building, located on the southern most edge of Petersburg, Virginia, would consume almost four years and just under $1 million dollars. Until on June 8^th, 1984 with Virginia Governor Chuck Robb as the keynote speaker, the USSSA Hall of Fame museum was finally a reality. Directors and players alike pledged donations and raised funds through tournaments and raffles to retire the mortgage in 1985. A truly amazing feat!

Both the exterior and interior of the museum in Petersburg ascribed to the areas rich historical heritage. Aisles and galleries in the museum featured finely detailed crown molding, chair rail, and wainscoting, 18^th and 19^th century themed wall papers and finely crafted solid cherry colonial reproduction furniture. The Hall of Fame joined six other city museums in combined ticketing and visitation promotions.

At the USSSA National Meeting in 2002, Mr. Don DeDonatis announced that the Headquarters and Hall of Fame would relocate to Osceola County Florida the following spring. By the time of the actual move, and with no site ready to accept the Hall of Fame, the museum was packed into 388 boxes and crates and stored in a Richmond, Virginia warehouse.

By May 18^th 2005 painters, electricians and carpet layers had finished their work on the first floor of the newest building in Osceola County’ Heritage Park. Installation of the imported Australian velcro fabric wall covering was completed by May 30. June 1^st all 388 boxes and crates arrived from Richmond and on June 13^th a tractor trailer full of dozens of new showcases arrived from Missouri. The next five months saw the installation of audio visual equipment and motion-activated exhibits and the creation of a variety of new displays. A very different Hall of Fame was coming together in Florida –black ceilings, black walls, no windows, 240 spot lights and 74 lighted showcases and all on-time and under budget.

On November 11, 2005 at 3 pm with USSSA and county officials in attendance, the red ribbon was cut to officially open the new USSSA Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. Since the opening, hundreds of visitors have toured and enjoyed the museum.

Good museums are not static, but ever evolving displays. At considerable expense in 2007 the museum added two touch screen computer kiosks featuring video interviews with inductees, and listings of individual honorific award winners and sports champions in all sports and all classes of play. Also in 2007 the exhibit space devoted to fast pitch softball was quadrupled.

2008 has already seen the addition to the museum of eight sports themed mannequins which will greatly help to bring our history to life. This year has also seen the completion of new exhibit space in the entrance vestibule of the building. Later this year the space devoted to baseball will be more than doubled as new artifacts arrive.