The Baseball in the Berkshires Museum, once a traveling showcase that roamed the region for more than a decade, has now taken up permanent residence at Lee Premium Outlets, Suite B55, offering visitors a curated look at the county’s baseball heritage.
A Museum Born of a 12‑Year Journey
The museum’s new home opened its doors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., inviting the public to explore exhibits that trace the sport’s roots from the 1791 Pittsfield bylaw that first mentioned baseball to the celebrated careers of local major‑league pioneers.
Among the 41 major‑league players hailing from Berkshire County, two have earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Frank Grant, a trailblazing 19th‑century star born in Pittsfield who excelled in both the International League and the Negro Leagues, and John Chesbro, a North Adams native whose pitching helped the New York Highlanders to a 1904 pennant.
Grant’s 2006 Hall of Fame induction and Chesbro’s 1946 election underscore the county’s outsized impact on the game, a legacy that also includes early milestones such as the 1859 intercollegiate contest between Amherst and Williams Colleges, recognized as America’s first college baseball game.
The exhibition also delves into the formative years of local teams, noting that from 1858 to 1880 as many as 275 town squads — including the Pittsfield Mets and Pittsfield Cubs — played the sport, and that the 1869 Cincinnati Redstockings faced off against the Pittsfield Elms in a historic cross‑country matchup.
Visitors can see memorabilia from notable alumni like Gene Hermanski, who spent nine seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Jim Bouton, whose satirical books ‘Foul Ball’ and ‘Ball Four’ captured the spirit of the game, as well as Mark Belanger, a Pittsfield native celebrated for his defensive brilliance with the Baltimore Orioles.
A Community Hub for Baseball History
Beyond its permanent display, the museum serves as a gathering point for local historians, educators and fans, preserving artifacts, oral histories and interactive experiences that connect the Berkshires’ past with the broader narrative of America’s pastime.
A dedicated children’s area lets young fans try on jerseys and handle replica equipment, reinforcing the museum’s mission to nurture the next generation of baseball enthusiasts.
Admission is free, and the museum’s schedule — Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — makes it accessible for families and tourists alike.
Looking Ahead
Organizers hope the museum’s visibility at a high‑traffic outlet will inspire further celebrations of the region’s sporting heritage, encouraging schools and community groups to engage with the rich baseball story that has shaped Berkshire County for more than two centuries.