CUMBERLAND - The Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook has been accepted into the library at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

The publication began in 1994 as a cooperative effort by Joe Waite and Mark Fuller.

“It's really a nice honor that our project will be housed in the Hall of Fame Library which is the ultimate house of baseball publications,” said Waite. 

“To know that Baseball Wisconsin will be a part of American history by being accessible to the baseball public is something unexpected but appreciated.”

Over the past 18 years Waite and Fuller have highlighted spring and summer baseball in Wisconsin; outlining conferences, tabulating statistics, and focusing on outstanding players and their coaches.

HOW IT HAPPENED…

Ron Kading of Potosi High School is credited as the coach that “made it happen.”

After the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association state clinic in February, Kading contacted Tim Wiles at the Hall of Fame.

“He expressed an interest in the publication, but requested a copy for their committee to review.

“After deliberating the merits of the 2010 Baseball Wisconsin Yearbook, they decided they would like the complete collection,” said Kading.

“The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Library consists of what baseball officials feel are worthy books and documents – things they feel have historical value.

“It also has some value as a resource tool for baseball historians who may be researching anything involving baseball in Wisconsin,” said Kading.

Every week a committee meets in Cooperstown, reviewing all previously submitted books, publications and guides. “They do not accept everything, just because it involves baseball,” said Kading.

According to library guidelines the publication has to be deemed significant and worth of being included in the National Baseball hall of Fame Library. “To meet their strict standards is a credit to the work Joe and Mark have put into the project since 1994.”

Kading said an entire collection of “Baseball Wisconsin” Yearbooks is being sent to Cooperstown, per their request.

“This recognition is very cool,” he said.

“I could go to the Hall of Fame’s Library and request the Baseball Wisconsin Yearbooks. More significantly, it shows the commitment baseball coaches in Wisconsin have to promote their program, kids and the game of baseball,” he said.