BRS Baseball Museum

A History of the BRS Museum...

What started in a restaurant window in 1981 has blossomed into an expansive attraction for the central Illinois region. Joe Kempe and Merle “Butter” Wright founded what originally was just the Bottomley-Ruffing Museum in 1981 — the Schalk portion was added later.

The idea was to honor three players from the first half of the 20th century that had ties to Nokomis and Montgomery County who each made the National Baseball Hall of Fame — Jim Bottomley, Red Ruffing and Ray Schalk.

The museum has had four homes in Nokomis during its 36 years of existence and we are excited today to bring in six more honorees, pushing the total to 111 central Illinois people who have been honored for significant contributions to the game of baseball. Congratulations and welcome!

Reid Detmers First MLB Win Limited Edition Card

On August 15th, Reid pitched six solid innings, giving up three hits and one run, while striking out six.

The Topps NOW card recognizes Reid's first career win in the Major Leagues. These cards were only available thru Topps website for 24 hours and are created to highlight special events throughout the MLB season.

All available cards have been sold.

2021 BRS 50/50 Home Run Contest

Pawlik, Scheller co-winners for June in HR Contest

Kyle Schwarber's historic home run tear in June not only paid off for the Washington Nationals slugger, it paid off for the two co-winners of the BRS Museum Home Run contest.

Both Roger Pawlik and Owen Scheller earned 16 points from Schwarber's 16-homer month as each of their 15-person team amassed 114 points, topping the 112 entries for the Home Run contest, which tests entrants' abilities to amass the most points among MLB hitters. Points are awarded for home runs. Pawlik, from the Chicago suburb of Alsip, and Scheller, of Mt. Olive, took different paths to the top, but each of their player selections finished with 114 points. Pawlik and Scheller will split the $28 monthly prize.

Pawlik leads the overall standings through June with 297 points, five ahead of Wayne Adams, who has 292. Scheller stands third with 286 points. The top five players at the end of the season will share in the overall prize pool, with the champion earning $140.

April Standings May Standings June Standings July Standings August Standings Standings Through August All Selections

View Contest Sheet

BRS Baseball Museum

121 W. State St.
Nokomis, IL, 62075
(217) 563-2495
Email Us

- Hours -
Saturday: 9am - 12pm
Call for another time by appointment

BRS Baseball Museum 121 W. State St., Nokomis, IL 62075 Phone: (217) 563-2495