“If you cut that big slob in half, most of the concessions at Yankee Stadium would come pouring out.” ~ Pitcher Waite Hoyt on teammate Babe Ruth

             The Baseball Reliquary travels to Pomona, California with an exhibition entitled “Culinary Baseball: Dishing Up The National Pastime,” to be presented at the Pomona Public Library, 625 S. Garey Ave., from March 3-April 25, 2003.
            The exhibition will explore the historic relationship between food and baseball. Food and beverages have been a big part of the fun at baseball games since the mid-19th century. In the first decade of professional baseball, fans could enjoy an array of food, including peanuts, soft drinks, Cracker Jack, ice cream, cherry pie, cheese, chocolates, planked onions, and even tripe. At first, vendors moved through the crowd hawking food and drinks, but by 1875 concession stands became common at ballparks, making the culinary aspect of going to a ballgame big business.
            The exhibition, which will feature photographs, artifacts, and artworks from private collections as well as the Baseball Reliquary, includes: the Walter O’Malley Tortilla, a flour tortilla which bears a remarkable likeness to former Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley and which was discovered in 1959 by Mrs. Regina Flores, a resident of Chavez Ravine; the Dave Bresnahan Potato, which was disguised as a baseball and thrown by former minor league catcher Dave Bresnahan in 1987 in one of the classic stunts in baseball history; and the Babe Ruth Hot Dog, the remains of a hot dog partially consumed by the Sultan of Swat in 1925 when he underwent surgery for an intestinal abscess caused by overeating (sometimes called “The Bellyache Heard Round the World”).
            Also to be exhibited are Orange Crate Label paintings by Ben Sakoguchi, depicting Steve Bilko, Pete Gray, Jim Abbott, Casey Stengel, and others; Mickey Mantle’s Country Cookin’ Restaurant dinnerware; trading cards issued to promote food products; and menus, napkins, and matchbooks from restaurants owned by former ballplayers. A display highlighting the career of baseball’s legendary “Peanut Man,” Roger Owens, who has tossed well over two million bags of peanuts in his 45 years as a vendor at Dodger Stadium, will also be on view.
            Pomona Public Library hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Friday and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM; closed Sunday.
            For further information, contact the Pomona Public Library Reference Desk at (909) 620-2043 ext. 476 or the Baseball Reliquary at (626) 791-7647. The Baseball Reliquary is supported in part by a grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.