Baseball Hall of Fame Tour stops in Albuquerque
The state-of-the-art traveling baseball exhibition heads to New Mexico on its tour of the Southwest
After making stops in Scottsdale, Ariz., two different Texas locales, and Tulsa, Okla., baseball's Hall of Fame Tour continues its 2017 trek through the Southwest with a stop in New Mexico. From May 19-27, you can view baseball's one-of-a-kind, modern Cooperstown collection across from Isotopes Park in Albuquerque.
Prepare to be surprised by what you will find.
Visitors at the Tour's first four stops this year have had a chance to compete in MLBAM's ultramodern virtual reality video game, "Home Run Derby," within the unparalleled 3D environment of one of eight iconic ballparks. A separate VR experience also lets baseball enthusiasts relive the 2016 postseason, from the Wild Card Game all the way through the final moment of the Cubs' historic World Series win. And of course, this cutting-edge technology is paired with a collection of timeless artifacts from the Hall of Fame itself that any baseball diehard can appreciate.
There has never been a Big League franchise in New Mexico, but the state's Albuquerque Isotopes have been a Minor League staple in the Pacific Coast League since 2003. The current Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies has had some memorable moments over the last decade and a half, from Manny Ramirez playing for the team over three games in 2009 to the time that they beat the reigning world champion Florida Marlins in a 2004 spring exhibition game. More recently, in 2014, Isotopes star Joc Pederson posted a 30-30 season to win the PCL MVP award and PCL Rookie of the Year honors and would go on to have great success as a rookie in the Majors with the then-affiliated Dodgers.
Pay homage to Ralph Kiner -- the only New Mexico native in Cooperstown -- by stopping by the Hall of Fame Tour. In addition to virtual reality experiences, fans can create their own digital Hall of Fame plaques, take historic selfies and view timeless artifacts that belonged to legends like Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. The Tour will be in Albuquerque until the end of May. For more information or to buy tickets, visit HallofFameTour.com.