Closeup of “Baseball Player Show Figure,” Samuel Anderson Robb, promised gift of Millie and Bill Gladstone.

Yogi Berra (left) and Phil Rizzuto were among the honored guests at the exhibit’s preview party.

Story and photos by R. Scudder Smith

NEW YORK CITY — “Take Me Out To The Preview” was a better lyric fit on Thursday night, June 5, when close to 400 people turned out for a benefit and early peek at the new exhibition at the American Folk Art Museum. “The Perfect Game, America Looks at Baseball,” will open to the public on June 17 and will be a real treat, combining our popular American pastime with the ever-growing interest in American folk art.

Exhibition curator Elizabeth V. Warren has pulled together rdf_Descriptions from both museums and private collections, putting on view wonderful pieces of sculpture, paintings, baseball games, signs, ballpark seats, quilts, baseball cards and even croquet wickets painted as baseball players. More than 100 works of art chronicle the history of baseball and demonstrate the impact the sport has had on American life.

Assisting in this exhibition were Margaret S. Smeal, assistant exhibition curator; Michael Morris and Yoshiko Sato, exhibition designers; and Linda Doherty, exhibition graphic designer.

Following a look at the early setup of the show and cocktails at the museum, guests made a two-block walk to the Hilton where the evening’s program continued. Both a live and a silent auction took place, raising more funds for the museum, and a special presentation was made to Millie and Bill Gladstone who have been longstanding friends and supporters of the American Folk Art Museum. The dinner tables were dressed to meet the occasion, with banners, baseball cards, balls and bat. Entertainment was by MOMIX.

The exhibition will be on view until February 1, 2004, at 45 West 53rd Street. For more information, 212-265-1040.