We are very excited to announce the temporary loan of the Gene Heckler baseball collection to the Mercer County Historical Society. Gene Heckler is credited with saving Acme baseball from near certain death in the late 1960s. He is remembered by many as being young at heart despite supporting Acme baseball into his 80s.

In this collection are several pictures of the Acme and Celina teams along with awards that Gene was given for keeping Acme going. At one time, the junior ACME team tournament was referred to as the Gene Heckler Memorial Junior Acme tournament in his honor. There is also a baseball (pictured) that was signed in 1968 by the players of the Celina Acme team. There is also a photograph of the Celina Legion Team that was signed by Wally Post on the back even though he is not pictured.

The Gene Heckler collection is accompanied by baseball memorabilia belonging to the Mercer County Historical Society. This memorabilia includes pictures of the Coldwater and Montezuma baseball teams, along with a collection of baseball cards, some of which feature the Cincinnati Reds. A catcher’s uniform, complete with facemask, is also on display beside the temporary display case.

This collection will be on display for the next three months until August in our newly installed temporary display cases at the Riley House museum. If you have a collection that you are interested in temporarily loaning to the MCHS for display for a three month period, please contact us via email at mercercountyhistorical@gmail.com. The Riley House museum is located at 130 E. Market St. in Celina, Ohio. We are open Monday and Friday 9-5 and admission is free.