Josh Rawitch (7-2-24)

The President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame talks about the Hall's upcoming Japanese exhibit. 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
It's always great when the Hall ofFame comes to you and comes to Dodger
Stadium. And we're joined right nowby the president of Baseball's Hall of Fame,
the one and only Josh Rawich.Great to have you back home at
Dodger Stadium. Thanks David. It'sgreat to be here. And you also
came with gifts and also kind ofspreading the word of baseball not just here
in the States, but a greatnew exhibit at Cooperstown, the transpecific exhibit

(00:24):
that incorporates a lot of Japanese bornplayers that have brought their talents to the
States. Yeah, what we're reallyexcited about is next summer. It lines
up with the same time that Dechiurois going to be eligible for the first
time to be on the ballot.We're going to be opening up an exhibit
called Yaku Baseball, and Yaku meansbaseball in Japanese. So we're focusing on
basically the history of the two countries, players that have played that went from

(00:47):
America to Japan and vice versa,teams that went in both directions, and
obviously the Dodgers are a huge partof that. And here at Dodgers Stadium,
not only did you spread the wordabout that exhibit, but also you
had players that obviously have made ahuge impact on Major League baseball. Yeah,
so we actually brought with us someartifacts, which was really cool.

(01:07):
We had a baseball from a nohitter from Hideo Nomo. We had an
amazing autographed plate that Peter O'Malley isloaning us because the O'Malley family is great
supporters of the Hall of Fame,both financially and with artifacts. And then
of course at the news conference,so Tani san was there, Yamamoto son,
and then Dave Roberts who's obviously bornin Japan, and Tory Leavello who
played in Japan. So it wasa perfect combination of guys. What struck

(01:29):
you the most about Otani and Yamamotoand understanding the history of what you're presenting
at the Hall of Fame, Well, Otani has been incredibly generous so for
his whole time in the big leaguesand donating artifacts to the Hall. I
think we have Cleat's a helmet,a hat, a jersey today he donated
a bat. Yamamoto I think sawthat and said I want to give them

(01:49):
a go up from spring training fromhis first spring training here. And then
you have someone like Ichiro, who'sbeen to Cooperstown seven eight times. He
has always understood what we do there, which as we preserve the history of
the game, we honor the greatestof all time, and we connect generations.
And I think these guys clearly recognizethat, or they wouldn't have wanted
to be a part of today.Hey, that's the voice of Chatsworth's own

(02:10):
now Major Baseball's Hall of Fame president, the one and only Josh Rawitch.
And when you look back at thistranspecific exhibit that is going to be on
display. Heydeo Nomo, that's whoI grew up on. He was kind
of a barrier breaker in a lotof ways and won the Rookie of the
Year. What's it like to holda baseball from his No hitter? Well,

(02:32):
it's pretty crazy because that was actuallythe year I interned at the Dodgers.
I started in nineteen ninety five,and none of us knew what Nomo
was going to do. I thinkall Dodger fans thought this guy he changed
the game forever. Really, priorto that, it had been forty years
since anybody had come from Japan andnobody knew how successful he'd be and obviously
came right out the gate. Wasso dominant through a no hitter, both

(02:53):
multiple no hitters in the big leagues, and to have a baseball in your
hands, that's from that. Frankly, anytime you're holding a piece of history,
I think anybody who loves the gameof baseball recognizes how insanely special that
is, no doubt. And thissummer, just in a matter of weeks,
a former Dodger is going to beinducted into the Hall of Fame class,
and that is Adrian Beltray. Heobviously is going in as a ranger,

(03:15):
but his career started with the Dodgers. Yeah. I mean, he
was obviously signed at a very youngage and was able to make an impact
at a very young age. Andin two thousand and four, I think
nobody can forget he was really trulyMVP caliber player forty eight homers, really
took off and had the first ofwhat wound up being a Hall of Fame
career his first big season. Sohe's really excited to get there. We've

(03:38):
gotten some early eyes on his speech. He's a little nervous to give it,
but he's going to do amazing.He's going to have all sorts of
Dodger fans there, Mariners fans,Rangers fans, and maybe some Socks fans
too. From his year in Boston, no doubt he has span quite a
few teams, but not as bigas the world as The trans Pacific Exhibit
at Cooperstown will be unveiled during eache ro's first year eligible for the Hall

(04:01):
of Fame. We've been joined bythe president of Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall
of Fame, the one and onlyJosh Rawich. Thanks a lot for the
time, Josh. Great to haveyou back in Sokel. I appreciate it
you. David, Thanks so much, buddy,