Museum’s Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone Engages Learners of All Ages

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Baseball and America grew up together, and the history of both has been intertwined for more than two centuries.

That history comes alive every day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone.

The re-imagined learning space was launched in 2025 and is now named in honor of William C. “Bill” Bartholomay, former owner/chairman of the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. The new name was officially announced with the Bartholomay family and seven Hall of Famers during the just-completed Hall of Fame Military Classic Weekend.

Thanks to a generous gift from Jamie Bartholomay Niemie, these funds ensure continued enhancements to the Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone, an interactive hands-on area in the Museum for all generations to explore, discover and connect through baseball’s artifacts and stories.

The plaque at the entrance to the Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone reads:

Bill Bartholomay left a legacy through a lifetime of devotion to the game, from his childhood spent attending games at Wrigley Field to his visionary leadership that brought Major League Baseball to the South when he moved the Braves to Atlanta.

Affectionately known as “Mr. B,” he led with unwavering integrity in the boardroom and at the ballpark. A tireless catalyst for progress, he worked to make the game accessible to everyone.

The Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone is the center of daily programming, where visitors of various ages can interact with Museum educators in fun and engaging activities.

Additionally, Bartholomay Niemie has endowed an annual summer internship in memory of her son and Bartholomay’s grandson, Trey Duffy, for a deserving college student to experience the Baseball Hall of Fame through immersive professional learning and career preparation.

“My family has had a long and deeply rooted connection to baseball – from my grandparents to my father and now through my own children and grandchildren – we all love the game,” Niemie said. “Giving back and impacting the lives of others was a hallmark of my dad’s life, and I am honored to celebrate his legacy through the Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone. It is a fun, engaging space that perfectly captures how the Museum connects generations of young fans.”

Located on the Museum’s first floor, the Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone features graphics, lighting, flooring, furniture and technology to enhance curiosity and creativity of Museum learners and visitors. Floor-to-ceiling graphic walls feature a ballpark theme as well as Manga-inspired art, a style used in Japanese comics. A highlight of the Bartholomay Baseball Discovery Zone is the redesigned locker area that includes numerous reproduction uniforms, bats, balls, gloves and other equipment from several eras, which fans can hold, try on and use for photo memories.

The 680-square foot space hosts hundreds of students and families every year.

For more information on daily programming at the Museum, please visit baseballhall.org/events.