RAY SWANSON Museum must-see for fans

PITTSBURGH -- With the exception of Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., I have never been more moved by any one sports entity than the one I enjoyed recently at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in the John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.
Located at 1212 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District, the area is known for its retail food markets, unique shops and as an entertainment district, housing a number of top-notch restaurants and nightclubs. The Sports Museum, however, is one place you don't want to miss.
The structure
Formerly a huge ice house, the building has been transformed into a beautiful historical center. It features six floors with the Sports Museum located on the middle floors. The sixth floor contains the library and archives.
The Sports Museum is situated in the Smithsonian wing of the History Center and without a doubt, it shares the long, rich history of sports in the region.
My son, Gary, and his wife, Maureen, decided to take my wife and I to the museum, for my Father's Day present this year. We were accompanied by, Ben, their 1-year-old son who definitely has been designed to become a Pittsburgh sports enthusiast. He's off to a great start.
For openers, the Champion Committee for the Sports Museum includes the names of some of the Pittsburgh-area's most renowned athletes. They are Arnold Palmer, Franco Harris, Mario Lemieux, Bill Mazeroski, Stan Musial and Suzie McConnell-Serio. How's that for a Champion Committee?
The displays
When you enter the Sports Museum, you will be introduced to a myriad of re-created environments, interactive elements, video presentations and images.
Real artifacts such as game-worn uniforms, trophies, sports equipment, pennants and banners, artifacts related to fan involvement and architectural elements from sports stadiums quickly bring you face-to-face with the history of sports in Western Pennsylvania.
Upon arrival to the Sports Museum, you are greeted with the heart-pounding video of Bill Mazeroski's game-winning homer over the Yankees in the 1960 World Series. That video was followed by another of Franco Harris "Immaculate Reception."
After Gary and I smoothed down the hair on the backs of our necks and wiped a tear from our eyes, we continued on our tour.
Throughout our journey, we were treated to the memories of the Pittsburgh teams' greatest triumphs and heart-breaking defeats. There were other things, too, that are Pittsburgh's through and through.
Familiar attractions
Things like the Steel Curtain, the Green Weenie, the Pittsburgh Kid, Terrible Towel, The Gunner's Babuska Power, the Negro Leagues, the Penguins. Then there's Arnie's Army, Gerela's Gorillas, Franco's Italian Army, to mention a few. There's more, like the top college standouts in and around the Pittsburgh area, guys like Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett.
There are segments on some of the city's top-notch boxers: Fritzie Zivic, Harry Greb and Billy Conn, and when the Alleghenies baseball team became the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1891, the Pirates' loss was to Boston Americans in the first World Series in 1903.
There's even Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception shoes, artifacts on the Pirates' Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell and a host of others. It's all yours for the viewing.
And if that wasn't enough, we topped off the afternoon with a delicious dinner at Liddia's Restaurant, located several blocks up the street from the museum. It was the perfect windup to a beautiful afternoon. Even Ben enjoyed himself immensely.
Admission to the History Center is $7.50 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and students with valid ID, $3.50 for children ages 6-18, and no charge for children ages 5 and younger.
It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Schenkel tribute
The sports world mourns the recent passing of one of the all-time great sports broadcasters, Chris Schenkel. He was 82.
I remember watching and listening to Chris, along with my father, years ago when he was announcing the Monday Night Fights from New York's St. Nick's Arena. He had a broadcaster's voice, one that was smooth, exciting and interesting.
He went on to broadcast everything from PBA Bowling to the Olympics, to PGA Golf and college football. Not once, in his 60 years of broadcasting, did I every hear him ridicule or speak wrongly about anyone. He was a gentleman and a scholar and the sports world respected and loved him.
Our sincere sympathy to Chris' family and friends and to his millions of fans.