During a recent work weekend in Muscotah the 20-foot in diameter water tower tank that sits on an empty lot was given its first coat of white paint and the rebar that serve as baseball seams were painted red. After a few cosmetic refinements are made on the outside of the ball, another coat of white will be applied.
Muscotah is the birthplace of major league Hall of Famer, Joe Tinker. Tinker was the shortstop for the Chicago Cubs when the Cubs last won a World Series in 1908. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946 with his double-play partners Johnny Evers and Frank Chance.
Volunteers also erected an outfield fence around a mini-infield that is located next to the ball. In the months ahead, interpretive signage, iron cut outs of Tinker to Evers to Chance, a scoreboard, and roses and ivy will be added to the area. Additionally, work is being done to put a museum for local history and rural baseball inside the ball.
Work was also done on the concrete block concession stand in the city park. At the end of July a historical baseball mural will be painted by artists Erika Nelson and Matthew Farley.
On July 27, a vintage baseball game will be played at Joe Tinker Field at the city park between the Hodgeman Nine and the Wichita Redstockings. The public is invited.
The Kansas Sampler Foundation helped organize the statewide support.for Muscotah. The mission of the Inman non-profit is to preserve and sustain rural culture. For more information about the World's Largest Baseball, go to www.kansassampler.org.
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PHOTOS: Request high resolution photos to WenDee LaPlant, 620.585.2374; wendee@kansassampler.org
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