Yankees in Cleveland? We need your help

The film Damn Yankees debuted 60 years ago, filling cinemas across America with “(You Gotta Have) Heart.” Based on the Tony Award-winning 1955 Broadway play, Damn Yankees won an Oscar, earned an Emmy nomination for its 1967 television production, and has been in theatrical production across the country ever since.

This year, the Hall of Fame will celebrate this legendary sports musical with an exhibit that honors its Broadway roots, Hollywood heritage and continuing popularity. With numerous theatrical and film artifacts, the Museum hopes to commemorate all aspects of this remarkable musical. But we seek help for one item.

In 1967, NBC produced a Damn Yankees TV special that featured actress Lee Remick as Lola. While black and white production photographs exist, a better, full-color representation comes from the April 7-14, 1967, issue of “TV Showtime” printed by the old Cleveland Press newspaper. On the cover, Remick takes up her stance in the batter’s box. Because of its limited distribution, no copies of this magazine made it to Cooperstown. Today, we hope that one issue might still exist for a friend of the Museum to discover and send to us.

We do not purchase artifacts, but we can cover postage, and the donor will receive a lifetime pass, a certificate suitable for framing, his or her name in the exhibit, and the undying gratitude of the institution.

If you have this “TV Showtime” and wish to donate it, contact Curator of History and Research John Odell at jodell@baseballhall.org for additional information.

In 1967, NBC produced a Damn Yankees TV special that featured actress Lee Remick as Lola. While black and white production photographs exist, a better, full-color representation comes from the April 7-14, 1967, issue of “TV Showtime” printed by the old Cleveland Press newspaper (pictured above). (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

The cast album from Damn Yankees is among the artifacts that will be included in the exhibit honoring the musical. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)