
Do You Know These 4 Upstate New York Baseball Stars? You Should!
There are many legendary baseball players who are buried in the Empire State. Most of these are buried in New York City, Westchester County, or Long Island.
I once wrote a book about famous people buried in New York, and traveled to the graves of most of these player. It was quite a revealing journey. For example, perhaps the most visited sports grave in America is that of Babe Ruth. He is buried in Hawthorne, NY (Westchester County) in Gate of Heaven cemetery. Ruth's grave is quite imposing depicting a large statue of Jesus Christ with his arms around two small boys dressed up to play baseball. I have been to Ruth's grave twice. Each time I found the grave covered with trinkets, good luck charms, baseballs, bats and balls, Yankee memorabilia, personal messages, and more. All of which is gathered up and archived by the cemetery. His grave shows signs of having been visited frequently by fans.
A short five minute drive south of Ruth's grave you can find the final resting place of the legendary Lou Gehrig. He is buried in Kensico Cemetery in Vallalla, NY (also in Westchester County). The two times I visited the "Iron Horse" gravesite it was covered with tall grass, completely devoid of memorabilia and trinkets, and one could rightfully assume that Lou is not visited very often. Two superstars. Two different graves.
I suspect the four men in this baseball gallery are more likely like Lou Gehrig. They are unvisited and almost forgotten by most. However, they are the only four ballplayers who are buried in Upstate New York and also are inductees in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
And their stories deserve retelling. That's what we do in this gallery.
Do You Know These 4 Upstate New York Baseball Players? You Should, They Are All in the Hall of Fame!
Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio
7 Of the Strangest, Oddest Sights In Upstate New York! Weird, But Very Cool!
Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio