Say Thanks to the Baseball Hall of Fame for Bouncing Sarandon and Robbins

April 11, 2003 | vanity

[tridentine]

Dale Petroskey, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, deserves our thanks and support for bouncing Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins from their April 27 gig there. Roger Kahn (baseball's most overated, self-righteous, and self-important author) has cancelled an August appearance in protest. The AP and various editorial writers are in similar high dudgeon. Email your words of support to the Hall's PR Director Jeff Idelson. His address is: jidelson@baseballhalloffame.org. Thanks.

[Rabid Dog]

Thanks for the post!

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[Cincinnatus]

Excellent idea! Let's do a nice Freep on a nice and brave organization!!!!

[jwalsh07]

Phone Numbers

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Main switchboard — 607.547.7200
Toll-free number — (888) HALL-OF-FAME or 888.425.5633
FAX — 607.547.2044
Education Department — 607.547.0362
Information, catalog requests, customer service — Call our toll-free number above
Membership program, group sales, special events — Call our toll-free number above
Membership program FAX — 607.547.2044

[speedy]

I tried to e-mail the jidelson address and was told it was not recognizable. Have to find another one.

[Kudsman]

"I tried to e-mail the jidelson address and was told it was not recognizable. Have to find another one"

This one works: info@baseballhalloffame.org

Here's a copy of the letter I sent earlier.

April 11, 2003

Dale A. Petroskey
National Baseball Hall of Fame
25 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Dale,

Just a note to thank you for your stand against the Hollywood socialists. I am only a concerned citizen but I want you to know that there are plenty of average Joes that appreciate your willingness to voice what we all feel.
I dont have access to as many folks as you have touched by taking speaking up. Everyone I talk to though supports you. Please don't cave to the left's whining demands. You have nothing to apologize for. I wish more public figures would condemn these anti-American elites. Keith Olberman can stick it as far as I am concerned. I will be switching ESPN everytime that jerk comes on. Keep the faith and may God bless and give you the strength to hold steadfast. Thank you again.

[speedy]

Thanks, Kudsman. I also sent to that address and it went through. We need a big-time freep to support these guys, because they are taking a beating in the press.

[jackbill]

Who in the hell is Roger Kahn?

[speedy]

A leftist who writes some baseball books, the most famous of which is "The Boys Of Summer." I agree with tridentine, he is vastly over-rated. There are many finer baseball writers, even finer liberal ones. He had a good concept with "Boys" and it was grossly over-hyped. George Will writes better baseball literature, and Bill James is much more thought-provoking. It would not be difficult to come up with a list of several dozen baseball writers far superior to Roger Kahn. Be sure to write to the Hall to support them.

[beckett]

Sorry. I know it's not likely to make me popular around here, but Petrovsky's move was boneheaded in the extreme. He handed Sarandon and Robbins a sword.

The event in Cooperstown would have gone completely unnoticed had Petrovsky not thrust it onto the national stage. By that act he has allowed the Left to hold Sarandon and Robbins as victims of a mean and petty conservative with a tenuous grasp of the First Amendment. Stupid.

[speedy]

I respectfully disagree. Yes, that is the way the NY Times and leftist sports shows are portraying it. But it is important not to let the likes of this Sarandon and Robbins prey on the good nature of people. They need to be made to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome for their political stand. As blatant as they are about their politics, it is highly likely that most baseball fans are unaware of where they stand. This kind of publicity helps to get the word out, and the timing is good because support for the war is so high. This is actually a good time to be calling out the leftists and making them answerable for their comments.

[GOPrincess]

I also respectfully disagree. There are times when one must stand on principle. This was one of those times.

Roger Kahn fails to recognize that the parallel to freedom of speech is freedom of association, and the Baseball Hall of Fame has every right to choose not to associate with Sarandon and Robbins, which among other things might give the impression of tacit approval of S & R's beliefs. There is no reason for the Hall to provide Sarandon and Robbins with yet another public platform.

Calling attention to this was *good*. Sure, some may choose to believe the Hall doesn't understand the first amendment and look down their elitist noses, but how many more Americans will be proud to learn that the National Pastime has taken a stand? I certainly was.

[tessalu]

This is my list of "Shame Names", those who would give aid and comfort to the enemy in time of war.
Martin Sheen, the West Wing,
The Dixie Chicks,
Natalie Maines, who is the lead singer,
Madonna,
Susan Sarandon,
Michael Moore,
Tim Robbins,
Peter Arnett,
Dianne Feinstein, unAmerican behavior said, September 2002, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., upon returning from a European trip, said, "As an American I've always been proud. I have a [U.S. flag] pin. I was embarrassed to wear it." I consider it doubly serious when word like this come from a Congresswoman from California.,
Robert Altman,
Dustin Hoffman,
Sean Penn,
Spike Lee,
I consider all of these to be shame names in America.
I am ashamed of every one of them.

[Proud2BAmerican]

Done. Thanks for the heads-up.

[bart99]

Robbins has said he was anxious to get away from politics and just be a part of baseball...... I'm a big-time baseball fan, and I'm tempted to agree with him. But you know the press coverage would have given both of them a forum to spout their views, and if not Robbins, then certaintly Sarandon, would have used it that way.

I think the Hall of Fame made the correct call, given the strong feelings that she holds and her desire to take any public forum to further her 'cause'. Besides, there wasn't all that much uproar when the United Way cancelled a charity event because of her. There shouldn't be much of a fuss about this. She and others deserve to ALLOW others their rights to make decisions they feel appropriate.

[beckett]

...but how many more Americans will be proud to learn that the National Pastime has taken a stand?

Petrovsky has no standing to speak for the "National Pastime." That's a big part of his miscalculation. He dragged his personal politics into sport.

In every way this action by Petrovsky was ill-considered and counter productive. I can't think of a single positive aspect. Cooperstown is not the place for political brawls. Had Sarandon and Robbins foolishly politicized the event themselves, Petrovsky could have expressed dismay with dignity afterwards. By pre-emptively gagging them, however, he looks silly and small, and, as I say, totally unfamiliar with the Bill of Rights.

[bart99]

Thanks for the email addy.

[Jorge]

By that act he has allowed the Left to hold Sarandon and Robbins as victims of a mean and petty conservative with a tenuous grasp of the First Amendment. Stupid.

What's stupid is the idea that the First Amendment means the Baseball Hall of Fame must provide Sarandon and Robbins with yet another public forum to express their views on the war, or provide them any public exposure at all.

[bart99]

"By pre-emptively gagging them, however, he looks silly and small, and, as I say, totally unfamiliar with the Bill of Rights."

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Haven't you heard?? The United States has a new policy that calls for "pre-emptive" action where necesary. *chuckling*