Museum honors local sports heroes
We all love to admire sports legends like Babe Ruth, Joe Montana and Michael Jordan, but what about the local heroes? What about those that made it all the way to the pros but do not get the same recognition?
Founded in 1972, the Sports Museum of Dutchess County was created to help the community embrace the history of sports in the area. Located in Wappingers Falls, this museum is the only one of its kind in the Hudson Valley. The new, permanent exhibit called the “Legends of Dutchess” features more than a dozen athletes who made it to the professional level in their respective sports. In addition to the athletes, the exhibits cover over 20 different sports played in the area, along with authentic artifacts on full display.
The new exhibit highlights the careers of seven baseball players and one athlete each from golf, basketball, football, boxing, ice skating, racing and soccer. Probably the most notable athlete throughout the entire museum is one that is still lacing up his cleats for the San Francisco Giants. “One of our more popular players is definitely Joe Panik,” said Joseph Cavaccini, curator of the museum. “He still plays baseball today, he plays for a very well-known team, in a very well-known sport.”
One of the unique aspects of this museum is that they are always accepting nominations for individuals for induction into their hall of fame. Candidates can be living or deceased, but they must have been directly involved in some kind of sport within Dutchess County.
The museum is located on the 100-acre Carnwath Farms Historic Site & Park, housed in the Reese Cultural Center. Doors are open on weekends throughout the Major League Baseball season, usually from April to November.
