It's always great when the Hall of Fame comes to you and comes to Dodger
Stadium. And we're joined right now by the president of Baseball's Hall of Fame,
the one and only Josh Rawich. Great to have you back home at
Dodger Stadium. Thanks David. It's great to be here. And you also
came with gifts and also kind of spreading the word of baseball not just here
in the States, but a great new exhibit at Cooperstown, the transpecific exhibit
that incorporates a lot of Japanese born players that have brought their talents to the
States. Yeah, what we're really excited about is next summer. It lines
up with the same time that Dechiuro is going to be eligible for the first
time to be on the ballot. We're going to be opening up an exhibit
called Yaku Baseball, and Yaku means baseball in Japanese. So we're focusing on
basically the history of the two countries, players that have played that went from
America to Japan and vice versa, teams that went in both directions, and
obviously the Dodgers are a huge part of that. And here at Dodgers Stadium,
not only did you spread the word about that exhibit, but also you
had players that obviously have made a huge impact on Major League baseball. Yeah,
so we actually brought with us some artifacts, which was really cool.
We had a baseball from a no hitter from Hideo Nomo. We had an
amazing autographed plate that Peter O'Malley is loaning us because the O'Malley family is great
supporters of the Hall of Fame, both financially and with artifacts. And then
of course at the news conference, so Tani san was there, Yamamoto son,
and then Dave Roberts who's obviously born in Japan, and Tory Leavello who
played in Japan. So it was a perfect combination of guys. What struck
you the most about Otani and Yamamoto and understanding the history of what you're presenting
at the Hall of Fame, Well, Otani has been incredibly generous so for
his whole time in the big leagues and donating artifacts to the Hall. I
think we have Cleat's a helmet, a hat, a jersey today he donated
a bat. Yamamoto I think saw that and said I want to give them
a go up from spring training from his first spring training here. And then
you have someone like Ichiro, who's been to Cooperstown seven eight times. He
has always understood what we do there, which as we preserve the history of
the game, we honor the greatest of all time, and we connect generations.
And I think these guys clearly recognize that, or they wouldn't have wanted
to be a part of today. Hey, that's the voice of Chatsworth's own
now Major Baseball's Hall of Fame president, the one and only Josh Rawitch.
And when you look back at this transpecific exhibit that is going to be on
display. Heydeo Nomo, that's who I grew up on. He was kind
of a barrier breaker in a lot of ways and won the Rookie of the
Year. What's it like to hold a baseball from his No hitter? Well,
it's pretty crazy because that was actually the year I interned at the Dodgers.
I started in nineteen ninety five, and none of us knew what Nomo
was going to do. I think all Dodger fans thought this guy he changed
the game forever. Really, prior to that, it had been forty years
since anybody had come from Japan and nobody knew how successful he'd be and obviously
came right out the gate. Was so dominant through a no hitter, both
multiple no hitters in the big leagues, and to have a baseball in your
hands, that's from that. Frankly, anytime you're holding a piece of history,
I think anybody who loves the game of baseball recognizes how insanely special that
is, no doubt. And this summer, just in a matter of weeks,
a former Dodger is going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame class,
and that is Adrian Beltray. He obviously is going in as a ranger,
but his career started with the Dodgers. Yeah. I mean, he
was obviously signed at a very young age and was able to make an impact
at a very young age. And in two thousand and four, I think
nobody can forget he was really truly MVP caliber player forty eight homers, really
took off and had the first of what wound up being a Hall of Fame
career his first big season. So he's really excited to get there. We've
gotten some early eyes on his speech. He's a little nervous to give it,
but he's going to do amazing. He's going to have all sorts of
Dodger fans there, Mariners fans, Rangers fans, and maybe some Socks fans
too. From his year in Boston, no doubt he has span quite a
few teams, but not as big as the world as The trans Pacific Exhibit
at Cooperstown will be unveiled during each e ro's first year eligible for the Hall
of Fame. We've been joined by the president of Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall
of Fame, the one and only Josh Rawich. Thanks a lot for the
time, Josh. Great to have you back in Sokel. I appreciate it
you. David, Thanks so much, buddy,