- Public Votes to Send Ball to Cooperstown with Asterisk -
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The public has spoken and with over 10 million votes received, Barry Bonds' 756th home run ball is heading to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, marked with an asterisk as a permanent footnote to the homerun record.
On September 15th, 2007, Marc Ecko bought Barry Bonds' 756th homerun ball at auction. For the next eight days, the country was encouraged to publicly debate the ball's fate by visiting www.vote756.com and choose to: (a) Bestow it intact to Cooperstown, (b) Permanently brand the ball with an asterisk before sending it to Cooperstown, or (c) launch it into space.
Mr. Ecko unveiled the results of the voting live on NBC's "Today" show, with 47 percent voting to add the asterisk; 34 percent to give it to the Hall of Fame intact; and 19 percent to send it into space. Combined, over 80 percent of voters believed the ball should go to Cooperstown, and over two- thirds felt that doubts surrounding the record needed to be recognized.
Commenting on the results, Mr. Ecko stated, "The fans have spoken and the asterisk will forever be part of the history of this ball. It is a reflection of fans' sentiments and will be preserved by the Hall of Fame in this manner. This was never about the record. I saw the purchase of the ball as an opportunity to open a national conversation using new media - the internet, blogs, videos - to allow America's oldest sport to have America's most modern conversation. The people should be the arbiters of what is historically significant about this artifact. The opportunities for expression, and our participation in the public square, are endless."
"We are gratified to have the Hall of Fame's support in this effort. Its curatorial staff is working with us to carry out the popular vote while preserving the ball. Being in the Hall of Fame will ensure that future generations can read about, reflect on and keep the discourse of this moment alive," concluded Mr. Ecko.
"Since the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum first opened in 1939, the generosity of players, teams and fans, like Marc Ecko, has made it possible to preserve baseball history in Cooperstown. Every one of the nearly 35,000 artifacts in our collection has been donated," said Dale Petroskey, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
"We're grateful to Marc for donating this baseball, which represents one of the game's most historic records. Baseball belongs to the fans -- it always has and always will. The asterisk represents the voice of the fans at this moment in time. The level of interest reflects the strong bond between baseball and American culture. Our responsibility as a history museum is to present every story in proper context, and this ball allows us to do that."
About Marc Ecko
Marc Ecko's artistic journey began in the mid-80s in a makeshift design studio and showroom located in the garage of his parent's New Jersey home. In the short period that has passed, Marc Ecko Enterprises (www.marceckoenterprises.com) has grown to include 12 separate *ecko unltd. and red by marc ecko apparel and accessories lines, the contemporary Marc Ecko "Cut & Sew" collection, G-Unit Clothing Company, Zoo York, Avirex, Complex magazine, and a recently launched video game and multi-media entertainment division. Over the years, he has also dedicated himself to a number of socially conscious initiatives, including significant work with underserved youth domestically and internationally, and a dedicated role in reversing the plight of the world's rhino population.
Source: Marc Ecko Enterprises
CONTACT: Clint Cantwell of Marc Ecko Enterprises, +1-917-262-1110,
clintc@ecko.com; or Shawn Sachs of Sunshine Sachs, +1-212-691-2800,
sachs@sunshinesachs.com; or Brad Horn, +1-607-547-0287, or Jeff Idelson,
+1-607-547-0215, both of National Baseball Hall of Fame
Web site: http://www.ecko.com/
http://www.marceckoenterprises.com/
