Green Diamond Gallery Offers an Amazing Display of Baseball History

by Slyde on Oct 25, 2009 5:34 PM EDT in Features

This past Saturday, BK, jch24, 'tHan and I were given the opportunity to take a tour of the fabulous Green Diamond Gallery in Montgomery. For those that aren't familiar with the Green Diamond Gallery, it is a fantastic private collection of baseball memorabilia that has been put on display in a pristine gallery here in town. It is an amazing collection that is made even more amazing by the fact that it has all been acquired by a single person. There are artifacts on display from all the way back to the start of the National League in 1876 and the pieces are as varied as game used bats to actual World Series trophies to gimmick products made to promote the game.

The best part about the entire gallery is how well the items have been compiled by the gallery's managers Kevin Manley and Tim Ruge. Unlike most museums, there is a certain style to the organization of the artifacts that tells more than just a chronological story of the game. There is a display called "Defunct Teams," which shows jerseys from teams that no longer exist like the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Montreal Expos. There is also a wall of "Curses," celebrating the supposed cursed teams of the game. My favorite display is the "Cloud Over Baseball," which is a set of jerseys of prominent steroid users displayed directly above a celebration of Major League Baseball's Top 25 Moments in the game's history. It's stuff like that that you'll never find in a museum and that makes this gallery truly special.

The one downside of this gallery is that it is not open to the public. They do have occasional events at the site where the public can buy tickets and see the gallery, but this private collection remains private for the most part. You can become a member though, which will give you access to regular tours of the gallery as well as a chance to attend a couple of the many events that the gallery puts on during the year. These events usually have a former Major Leaguer player there to give a speech of some sort, and they regularly pull in Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, Goose Gossage, and Ozzie Smith to speak. If you are interested in checking out the membership, you should go to their website linked above. I'll warn you though, it ain't cheap.

I want to thank Tim Ruge for offering to open up the gallery to us on a Saturday morning. It really was exciting to see all of the cool stuff they have there. Thanks to jch24 we do have some pictures for you after the jump. If you are in town and ever get a chance to tour the gallery, don't pass it up. It is a must-see for all baseball fans.

Each ball here represents one of the 125 Wright Society members, a list which includes Robert S. Castellini and Tim Kremchek.

Click an image to view a larger version above.

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Comments

So

Is A-Rod’s jersey in the cloud?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 25, 2009 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

yes

I believe it was a jersey from the Mariners. It’s the last one on the right side in the picture above.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 25, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

A little better pic

HERE.

"What the hell are spanks????"

by jch24 on Oct 25, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks

I think that is A-Rod’s jersey at the end. He wore #3 as a Mariner, I think. He couldn’t wear it as a Yankee because it’s retired (some guy named Ruth).

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 25, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

A little better pic

HERE.

"What the hell are spanks????"

by jch24 on Oct 25, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

So...

Where can I see a slightly better picture?

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Oct 25, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I got the classic "posting....." crap then it posted twice

Would you like me to delete it? :)

"What the hell are spanks????"

by jch24 on Oct 25, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I want you to hold

by Brian B on Oct 27, 2009 8:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Damnit, stop posting before I! I hate Sbn!

Forget it. Joke’s past already.

by Brian B on Oct 27, 2009 8:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Damnit, stop posting before I'm finished! I hate Sbn!

Forget it. Joke’s past already.

by Brian B on Oct 27, 2009 8:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i don't get it

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Oct 27, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

on all of the pics above, you can see a larger image

if you right click on the image that is displaying and say “Show Image” (or “View Image”) it will show the image by itself. In the URL box, drop the “_medium” from the file name and it will give you a larger version of the picture.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 25, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

That was actually a different pic, wider angle

I didn’t upload it because I figured it was repetitious.

"What the hell are spanks????"

by jch24 on Oct 25, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

what?

You intentionally cut out A-Rod’s jersey?

What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know the Yankees are the center of the universe?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 25, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Never

Especially when it casts him as a cheater! I took two different pics for god knows what reason. Then I chose the crappier one. It’s not been a good day for me.

"What the hell are spanks????"

by jch24 on Oct 25, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

what team's Conseco jersey is that?

Was he on the Rockies some point and I missed it?

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Oct 25, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

White Sox

"What the hell are spanks????"

by jch24 on Oct 26, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

wow

so how did you nerdlingers end up getting this kind of special treatment? did you fix the guy’s basement or something?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 25, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

we only have to do their homework for them for a week

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 25, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

radical!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 26, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions

The second to last picture in the gallery doesn't work

Which is a shame, because it’s one of the best ones

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on Oct 25, 2009 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

But how do you know it's one of the best ones?

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Oct 25, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Because the thumbnail was visible so I know what picture it was since I was there

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on Oct 25, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

fixed

not sure why it didn’t work. It worked at least once when I tested it.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 25, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

wow, would've loved to be there

and if I may be so nerdy, that’s a beautiful arts+crafts font they used for everything. Someone who knew design must’ve done that, which is rare in a museum.

This post also reminded me of this link, which is one of my favorites to get me through the winter months.

by Cy Schourek on Oct 25, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions