Hall of Fame Artifacts on Exhibit at Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

‘Cubs vs. Cardinals: The Rivalry’ opens March 24 in Springfield, Ill.

(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) – The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals have forged more than 100 years of history as rivals on the diamond – with much of that history preserved at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Starting in March, a city at the epicenter of the rivalry – Springfield, Ill. – will bring fans of both teams together through an exhibit featuring Hall of Fame artifacts at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Opening March 24, Cubs vs. Cardinals: The Rivalry at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will treat visitors to rare artifacts and photographs from the celebrated histories of the Cardinals and the Cubs. Developed in conjunction with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The Rivalry also features artifacts on loan from both franchises in a unique partnership with all three organizations.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the prestigious Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum on The Rivalry exhibit,” said Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “In bringing artifacts from Cooperstown to Springfield, we are able to animate the stories associated with one of baseball’s most celebrated rivalries and two of the most enthusiastic fan bases these teams represent.”

Visitors will learn about legendary players ranging from Mordecai Brown and Rogers Hornsby to Jake Arrieta and Yadier Molina as well as interact with the exhibit by sharing their own Cards-Cubs memories, answering trivia questions and playing a home run derby as their favorite team.

“Baseball is the American pastime and a huge part of history and culture. Few sports stories can top the length, passion and sheer fun of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry,” said Alan Lowe, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “We’re excited to offer our visitors an unprecedented look at this piece of the Illinois story.”

Items planned for the exhibit from the Hall of Fame’s collection include:

 The second-base bag stolen by Cardinals star (and former Cub) Lou Brock on Sept. 10, 1974, to break the previous modern record for steals in a season
 The cap worn by Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood when he struck out 20 batters on May 6, 1998
 A chart kept by Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog to track the hitting trends of Cubs slugger Andre Dawson
 A watch fob owned by Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown with medallions for the Cubs’ 1907 and 1908 World Series victories and 1906 pennant win
 Shoes worn by Cardinals outfielder Vince Coleman when he set the major league record for stolen bases by a rookie in 1985

“The artifacts in this exhibit will amaze baseball fans,” said Illinois State Historian Samuel Wheeler. “The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has, literally, opened its vault to us, as have the Cardinals and the Cubs.”

The Chicago White Stockings took the field in 1871 and the St. Louis Brown Stockings followed in 1882. But the exhibit begins even before the teams (which later took on the names Cubs and Cardinals) were officially created. It will carry visitors through 150 years of highs and lows: Championships, memorable trades, broken racial barriers, famous broadcasters, home run races and more.

The exhibit will be housed in the ALPLM’s Illinois Gallery, a space dedicated to rotating exhibits on state history.