Published: July 01, 2008 08:56 am         

Hall plans summer events

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will be hosting several special events to lead off the summer season. Presentations include memories of a five home run day, a blood drive, and a salute to Hank Greenberg.

On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie, and their daughter, Sharon, will be on hand for the official rededication of Robinson’s Hall of Fame plaque.

The rededication will take place in the Hall of Fame Gallery and will be followed by a “Voices of the Game” program featuring Sharon Robinson, with a special appearance by Rachel Robinson, at 3 p.m.

An extremely limited number of tickets remain for this event, and can be purchased by calling the Membership department at 547- 0397. Following the program, Sharon Robinson will be available to sign copies of her books “Safe at Home“, “Promises to Keep” and “Jackie’s Nine.”

On Thursday at 1:30 p.m., author Al Santasiere will celebrate the final season at Yankee Stadium and discuss his new book, “Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective.”

Following his program, Santasiere will be available to sign copies of his book in the Library Atrium. Admission to this event is included in the price of Museum admission. Former major leaguer Nate Colbert participates in an interview program in the Bullpen Theater on Friday at 1 p.m. Colbert, who played for the Astros, Padres, Tigers, Expos and A’s, hit five homeruns in one day in 1972 and will discuss his memories of his days on the diamond.

Admission to this event is included in the price of Museum admission. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Hall of Fame will host a blood drive through the America Red Cross and Bassett Healthcare. All blood donors will receive free admission to the Museum on that day.

Also this weekend, the Museum will pay tribute to Hank Greenberg in a special event presented by the American Jewish Historical Society. The celebration begins on Saturday with a 5 p.m.

screening of Kempner’s film, “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg,” in the Bullpen Theater. Following the film, Kempner will participate in question and answer with the audience.

A “Tribute to Hank Greenberg” panel discussion, featuring Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Greenberg biographer Ira Berkow; film-maker Aviva Kempner, historian Bill Simons, and Hank’s daughter Alva Greenberg will begin Sunday morning at 9:10 a.m. in the Grandstand Theater. This event is free of charge, but will require a ticket that can be reserved by calling the Membership department at 547-0397. A book signing in the Library Atrium will follow from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., and the day concludes with a second showing of “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg” in the Bullpen Theater at 1:30 p.m. followed by Q&A with Kempner.

These special events are in addition to the Hall of Fame’s daily schedule of summer programs that are now taking place through Aug. 29.

These programs include costumed presentations, trivia games, artifact spotlights and more. A detailed schedule of events is provided for visitors upon entry.