Any serious baseball fan knows that going to the Hall of Fame is an essential experience. But the Hall of Fame also gives you plenty of ways to continue the experience even if you can't get to Cooperstown.

Becoming a Friend of the Hall of Fame member is the best way to stay connected with the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown and baseball history throughout the year. Member benefits include a subscription to "Memories and Dreams" magazine, an exclusive hard-bound edition of the Hall of Fame yearbook, member lapel pins, admission to the Hall of Fame for one full year for member and three guests, and the opportunity to participate in special members- only programs both in Cooperstown and on the Web. Members also get a 10 percent discount and free shipping on all purchases from the Hall of Fame catalog, Website and museum store. As an independent, not-forprofit educational institution, the museum depends on member support to develop new programs, preserve artifacts that document the rich history of baseball, and most important tell the story of the National Pastime.

Another great holiday gift idea is a unique ornament designed exclusively for the Hall of Fame. The sculpted poly-resin center tile is crafted with brick from the original Hall of Fame building, surrounded by a star and bunting design with gold-finished photo etching. On back is the Hall's mission statement: Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations.

The Hall of Fame has these and hundreds of other gift ideas for the fan in your life. Visit the hall's online store at nbhof.org to get more information and order today.

Most items here are ideas for the December holidays, but Nike's MaxSight contact lenses could also come in handy at Halloween. Just check out the spooky visage of Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts.

Roberts surely scared pitchers in 2005, setting career highs with a .314 average, .387 onbase percentage, .515 slugging, 18 home runs and seven triples. You can't chalk up that success simply to wearing the MaxSight lenses because he only wore the amber-tinted contacts during day games, but he did note they made a difference in his vision.

Bausch & Lomb and Nike worked for seven years to produce the MaxSight lenses, which absorb UV rays and blue light, and function, as Roberts puts it, like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses. Roberts, who regularly wears contacts, was the first baseball player to use them in game action. Ken Griffey Jr., Joe Mauer, Mike Timlin, Bronson Arroyo and Danny Graves also were among the first players to try out MaxSight in batting practice and bullpen sessions.

Brian Roberts wears Nike's newly developed MaxSight contact lenses

MaxSight lenses are available in prescription and non-prescription varieties, so those with 20-20 vision won't be left out. The amber lenses are made for fast-moving sports including baseball, soccer and tennis, while Nike also has gray-green lenses that are better suited for bright sunlight pursuits including golf and running.

To get MaxSight lenses you'll need a trip to the eye doctor. They cost about the same as a regular pair of contacts and last about a month, depending on how often they're used.

For more information on the complete line of sporttinted contact lenses from Nike and Bausch & Lomb, visit nikevision.com.

If you're looking for an unusual gift idea, how about this: Spend quality time with a major league pitcher, tour a foreign land, and be part of bringing the national pastime to Vietnam.

You can join major league pitcher Danny Graves and a delegation that will include his Vietnamese mother Thao, a teacher who now lives in Florida and will be making her first visit to Vietnam in more than three decades.

The delegation will arrive in Hanoi on Jan. 17, and the highlight of the itinerary will be Graves' visit to Quang Tri province, where he will present the community with baseball equipment and offer Vietnamese children baseball coaching and instruction as part of an ongoing effort by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to build goodwill between the U.S. and Vietnam.

In addition to the baseball clinic, you'll spend 10 days enjoying the most interesting landmarks of an ancient culture.

Graves was born on a military base in Saigon on Aug. 7, 1973, and the Graves family moved to the U.S. shortly before the fall of Saigon when Danny was 14 months old.

The "Bringing Baseball to Vietnam" trip will cost $10,000 a person. A deposit of $2,500 is due by the end of November, and a portion of the trip is taxdeductible. To register or get more information, call (202) 393-0090, ext. 104, or visit vvmf.org.

After two straight years of facing each other in the American League Championship Series and creating the highest of October drama, the Red Sox and Yankees both bowed out of the playoffs quickly this season.

But their fans still had entertaining baseball options, thanks to two new DVD releases from A&E Home Video. "The New York Yankees Fall Classic Collector's Edition, 1996-2001" chronicles the modern Yankees dynasty at the height of its power, while "The Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series Collector's Edition" provides the kind of comprehensive review of a season that you'd expect for a team breaking an 86- year championship drought.

Rather than just telling you what's on the DVDs, however, we thought we'd get two of Baseball America's resident fanatics to watch them, give you the highs and lows, and then of course take shots at their rival. Representing the Yankees is publisher Lee Folger, and representing the Red Sox is assistant editor Aaron Fitt. As the Red Sox were still holding on to their last days as defending champions at press time, Aaron gets to fire the first shot.

The Yankees DVD set sums up six of the best seasons in franchise history

Fitt: While the Red Sox set about defending the World Series championship from their living room couches this October, I decided to relive 2004 on my couch. And why not? I'm in Year One of an 86-year grace period, so I wouldn't think of complaining about the rather unlikable, immensely f lawed 2005 version of the Olde Towne Team. Not when I can throw on my 12-DVD set from last year's magical playoff run.

Anytime I feel blue, all I have to do is cue up Game Four of the ALCS, when Dave Roberts stole the base that changed New England forever. Nothing makes me smile like the realization that the Mighty Yankees fell f latter than the punchline to a Lee Folger joke. Biggest collapse in sports history, and it happened at the hands of New York's greatest rivals. That's got to sting, huh Lee?

Folger: My postseason viewing has also taken a rather retro turn. After this October's disappointment, I went searching for a happy ending and found it with my own seven-DVD set. For Aaron and his buddies scoring at home, that would be six years— count 'em, six—worth of championship footage, highlighting four—count 'em, four— World Series titles for the Yankees. Compared to the 12 DVDs for the Sox for just one title, the Yankees look downright parsimonious. Conversely, Yankee fans expect a championship sooner than 86 years from now, so one can see the reason for the Red Sox fans' enthusiasm.

These DVDs are a wonderful by-product of the age we live in. No longer constrained by the limits of the VHS format, A&E and Major League Baseball have put together a set that shows a great deal of thought. In addition to five World Series games, there are also two bonus DVDs of highlights that include the official World Series videos from those championship years, the last half-innings of the David Wells and David Cone perfect games, and of course, the Jeter f lip. These meet my criteria for true highlights, as opposed to exclusive footage of Bronson Arroyo breaking a guitar string.

Fitt: Quit living in the past, Lee! Talk to me when your Yanks win a title in this century. In the meantime, you're welcome to view my DVDs of the first three games of the ALCS last year, and relive the exhilaration you must have been feeling before the choke job to end all choke jobs.

That's actually my biggest complaint about the Red Sox set: Why include those three games? What Red Sox fan is going to watch them? It would have been better if they had replaced those games with the three Division Series games against the Angels. Everything else about the set is wonderful. I love having the entire, unedited telecasts of those eight magical games—the wins against the Yankees and the sweep of the Cardinals in the World Series. Someday I'll be able to show my grandkids the greatest postseason run ever, and they'll be able to see the emotion of the fans and the players and maybe feel some of what Sox fans felt in 2004.

As for Bronson Arroyo's guitar playing, that is just one of the fun extras on the bonus DVD, which also includes the official World Series video, narrated by Dennis Leary. That video is a bit heavy on curse imagery, but it still induces goosebumps.

Other extras include extended footage of the on-field and clubhouse celebrations after the ALCS and World Series. Watching Sox icons like Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, Pedro Martinez and Johnny Pesky rejoice after finally winning the big prize will make any Sox fan smile. There are also extras that give you a chance to get to know players like David Ortiz, Curt Schilling and Kevin Millar. It's a nice collection of features, though the meat of the boxed set is the games themselves. It's a must-have for any serious Sox fan. And, hey, you can make a Yankees fan's day by donating the first three ALCS games to him. After all, that's the closest the $200 million disaster in the Bronx will get to another championship for a while.

Folger: Since neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox will go to the World Series in 2005, maybe they can do smaller 2005 DVD sets. My title for the Yankees 2005 Division Series DVDs would be "Stranded" for all the runners left on base. For Boston, I think "Swept" is an apt name, with a bonus mini-broom included (with the Red Sox logo).

Since it is unlikely these DVDs would get made, I will bathe in the warmth of the Yankees' success of the late 1990s. The games in the set are dramatic and historic. They include World Series highlights such as Game Four in 1996 against the Braves (Jim Leyritz' home run); Game Three in 1998 against the Padres (Scott Brosius goes deep in the eighth and ninth); Game Three in 1999 against the Braves (two home runs by Chad Curtis); Game Five in 2004 against the Mets (the clincher); and Game Four in 2001 against the Diamondbacks (Tino homers in the ninth and Jeter homers in the 10th).

When you go 86 years between World Series titles, a 12-DVD reminiscence doesn't seem like overkill

I don't know about you, Aaron, but the million- dollar question I had about these sets had to do with the full game broadcasts. There have been edited segments of some of these games available, but the production of the DVDs has been a pleasant surprise.

While it must have been impossible to edit out all of the Fox promos (catch the "Living Single" stars enjoying a night at the World Series), the games don't feel as interrupted and jagged as the live broadcasts sometimes do. As a result, the DVD game replays have a sense of space, pacing, and dramatic tension that makes watching them even more enjoyable. I appreciate the decision to provide the entire broadcast instead of just highlights. For passionate fans, timing matters. I can still feel that sense of anticipation that goes with the build-up to a moment instead of just the event itself. That kind of context transports you back to the experience far better than a one-pitch highlight. For any Yankees fan this holiday season, I recommend Buster Olney's book "Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty" and "Nine Innings From Ground Zero" duct-taped to this wonderful DVD set.

Both Red Sox and Yankees DVD sets are available online and in stores across the nation or can be ordered directly from A&E at shopaetv.com.

Because the image of coaches lugging around an army duffel bag with bats, balls and the tools of ignorance is all too familiar, Easton has teamed up with Ogio (a leader in bag design and innovation) to make this image a thing of the past.

The duo has created the Stealth Sled (Structural Load Equalizing Deck) bag, an ideal accessory for any coach or player with a lot of traveling in his future. The bag is 38 inches long, 15 inches wide and 12 inches tall, providing ample room for all equipment and accessory needs.

With a telescoping, reinforced pull handle and oversized custom wheels, the Stealth Sled bag is extremely mobile, providing the convenience of most modern luggage while sparing coaches from having to worry about potential back problems.

It also provides an easily accessible exterior bat sleeve, and a scorebook and a first aid kit compartment. There are four pockets of varying size, including one that is f leecelined to protect your valuables.

By creating the Stealth Sled bag, Easton and Ogio have reached an all-new level of function and style in bat bags and should make the duffel bag obsolete.

Easton Stealth Sled was created with help from Ogio, a leader in bag design and innovation

The Stealth Sled bag is an obvious choice for a coach who no longer wants to worry about carrying around his team's equipment or for a player who has tournaments that involve more than a day trip. It provides more than enough room for all their equipment and accessory needs.

For more information on the Stealth Sled bag and all of Easton's baseball products, check out their Website at baseball.eastonsports.com.

Everything Baseball almost assures you of finding the perfect holiday gift for the baseball fan in your family—after all, they've got everything!

Leading the way are personalized locker room prints, which are great for the home or office. Have any baseball fan immortalized in the locker room. Everything Baseball will put the fan's name on a jersey hanging in the locker room next to the jerseys of three of the best players on your favorite team. Then, you can order a print or laminated plaque displaying the locker room. Just think: Ramirez, Schilling, Damon and you! Every major league team is available.

The baseball alarm clock, which allows you to turn off the alarm by throwing it against the wall, has been a big hit in the halls of Baseball America.

One of several holiday card designs to be found at Everything Baseball

Everything Baseball also features apparel, books, DVDs, CDs, jewelry and keychains, baby items, collectibles and more. Bring your favorite sport to your office with baseballrelated business card holders, lamps, bookends, paperweights, change dishes and memo holders. You can find personalized and novelty baseballs and bats. You can transform your home into a baseball haven with mirrors, wall décor, knobs/drawer pulls, candles, clocks, rugs, towels and blankets—all with baseball themes.

You can even send your loved ones baseball- related holiday greeting cards. For the Red Sox fan on your shopping list, there is an assortment of gifts commemorating Boston's 2004 World Series championship, including Christmas tree ornaments, and you can find gifts for every other team as well.

If you can imagine it, chances are you can find it. Just visit everythingbaseballcatalog.com to find out.

The late Ray DeMarini had what he considered a secret weapon for developing bat speed and explosive power. Now it's no longer a secret.

Invented by DeMarini himself, the Chute Speed Trainer goes where no dumbbell or weight station can go in targeting the precise range of motion and key muscles used in hitting. Sold with an instructional DVD, the Chute Speed Trainer is available at select sporting goods dealers nationwide.

"Ray was a training fanatic, a true maniac in the weight room," said longtime friend and DeMarini marketing manager Jerry Garnett. "He knew that resistance training was the key to developing explosive power, and he realized that no weight room exercise pinpointed the motion and muscles of hitting."

Designed for both baseball and softball bats, the Chute Speed Trainer attaches to a bat with a zippered nylon sleeve. When a player takes a cut, a drag chute deploys, generating resistance that strengthens key muscles. Unlike dumbbells or weight machines, the trainer targets the exact range of motion and muscles used in hitting. What's more, its light weight and small size make it ideal for training on the road or warming up at practice or game time. The Chute Speed Trainer video features chute drills, stretching and vintage DeMarini television ads.

Similar to the Chute Speed Trainer, the Running Chute attaches to a player's waist and targets the key muscles used in running and fielding. With the help of a partner, a drag chute is deployed as the player runs. Specialized drills strengthen the motions and muscles used in specific running and fielding situations. Like the Chute Speed Trainer, the Running Chute includes an instructional DVD with chute drills, stretching and vintage DeMarini television ads.

Established in 1989, DeMarini Sports took the bat industry by storm with the world's first high-tech softball bat. Acquired by Wilson Sporting Goods in 2000, DeMarini continues to research, design and build highperformance softball and baseball bats in its state-of-the-art Hillsboro, Ore., facility.

If you'd like to find out more about DeMarini's chute training products or Wilson's complete line of baseball gear, visit wilson.com.

Sure, baseball season has crested, but the holiday season is the perfect time to stock up on Adidas sports footwear and apparel to lead you into winter training and back onto the field when spring arrives.

Any good baseball player knows you can't just show up in the spring in great shape without some sort of offseason work. Adidas offers a huge collection of workout gear for that purpose. Its Bricklayer short-sleeve top and shorts both feature ClimaLite technology that wicks sweat away from your body to keep you cool, dry and comfortable. The items feature the trademark three stripes running down each side and come in a variety of colors. The shorts offer side pockets.

For an early morning run or a cooler day, pull on the long-sleeved Essential warm-up. The half-zip pullover is made from doubleknit polyester that feels slick. It's almost form-fitting, which keeps warmth in and doesn't make movement cumbersome with excess bulk. The sleeve cuffs and bottom hem are open rather than elasticized for a freer feel. There is a ref lective brand mark on the front left chest and the trademark three stripes on the upper back also ref lects light, to make sure cars can see you on a trail or roadside run.

Those who do conditioning in cooler climates won't be left out, either. The Evolution pant and Feedback jacket are great for cold days or simply wearing over your shorter clothing on the way to an inside facility. The mesh-lined, polyester woven pants and jacket feature the trademark three stripes down the side and come in a variety of colors. The pants are the ClimaProof wind variety that keeps the elements out. They feature side pockets, a back right pocket and side-zip leg bottoms. The jacket comes with an asymmetrical front zipper and a stow-away hood.

Once the season bows, you'll surely need a pair of spikes to take the field. Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero wore the Phenom Signature model, which features a speed lacing system with a quick-pull drawstring and a velco strap rather than traditional laces.

The three-quarters high metal cleat is made for big players looking for speed and support with a lightweight design. It comes with the three stripes running diagonally along the outside. That same striping pattern appears on the Clima Phenom Metal Low, the third generation Clima Cool baseball shoe. Its strategically placed vents along the tongue and in the sole keep your feet cool during the hottest action.

The Excel IC is the only shoe on the market that features an interchangeable cleat system for metal, plastic and turf cleats. The Excelsior Classic Low is a traditional metal cleat.

Adidas offers a complete line of gear for baseball players from head to toe, and you can see it all at adidas.com/baseball.

For the parent or coach searching for the perfect gift that will not only provide fun and entertainment for a child or players but also a constructive source of practice, the Bullpen Buddy is your best bet.

The Bullpen Buddy is a five-foot replica of a batter that can be placed on either the right or left side of a target to serve as a safe training aid for the up-and-coming baseball or softball pitcher.

Most pitching coaches agree that developing control and command are integral elements to building confidence and success in a young pitcher, and the Bullpen Buddy can accelerate the pitcher's feel for the strike zone and increase his ability to pick the proper placement of his or her pitches.

Bullpen Buddy is used by teams from youth leagues to the big leagues, including the Mets

The Bullpen Buddy is durable, lightweight, mobile and assembles easily, making it a great option for use in the backyard, on the field or in the bullpen. The collectible Big League Bullpen Buddy, which is designed in authentic major league uniforms, is also available for purchase.

The Bullpen Buddy is used by teams in professional baseball as well as colleges, high schools, youth leagues, baseball and softball training camps.

Pick out your own Bullpen Buddy and get more information on its uses on the Web at bullpenbuddy. com.

A personalized Louisville Slugger bat, the official bat of Major League Baseball, is the perfect opportunity to hit a gift-giving home run.

The bats can be personalized with the logo of a favorite major league team or a personal message for the holidays. There are various bat colors and lettering styles to choose from too.

The greatest baseball players and the biggest stars have their very own names on legendary Louisville Slugger baseball bats; from Babe Ruth to Elvis, from Madonna to Muhammad Ali. Put yourself or someone else in the same league this holiday season.

Bats can be ordered on site at the Louisville Slugger Museum, over the phone or on the Web. Prices range from $14-75, depending on the style of bat. Sizes vary from 18 inches to 34 inches. To ensure Christmas delivery, internet and phone orders must be placed by noon on Dec. 20. Orders can be placed at the Louisville Slugger Museum until 2 p.m. on Dec. 23.

For more information on personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bats or other Louisville Slugger products, visit sluggergifts.com or call (502) 588- 7330 or (877) 775-8443.

When it comes to outfitting the serious player, from youth baseball to the big leagues, Worth and Rawlings have every base covered.

An example of Worth's great product line is the Prodigy bat with its Scandium Whiplash frame, which is 10 percent stronger and up to 30 thinner for more whip. The bat has 24 percent more flex, which increases the trampoline effect when the ball leaves the bat. There's also a line of Prodigy fielders gloves. For 2006, Worth teamed up with the best glove technicians in the world. All of this year's series are brand new and feature a lifetime warranty.

Worth's Prodigy bat is thinner but stronger and provides more flex than previous models

Worth also features a complete line of protective equipment, including hockey-style catcher's masks, leg guards and the industry's best chest protectors. All Worth chest protectors have an adjustable back harness for a secure fit, and a vinyl-covered neck pad for comfort.

Rawlings' latest breakthrough product is the Plasma Bat, which features a 30 percent larger sweet spot. Mis-hits become ropes with Plasma Shell Technology's concentration through the hitting zone. With five times more Liquidmetal, Plasma allows for a thinner aluminum under-frame than previous models, making Plasma's sweet spot 30 percent larger than previous Liquidmetal models. A completely new lightweight Liquidmetal formula allows for a much more highly concentrated exterior shell, which adds 20 feet more distance than previous Liquidmetal models.

Rawlings also has the industry's best collection of fielders gloves, each of which feature the highest-quality materials and offer various features depending on your needs. The best way to find your perfect glove is visit the Website and try out the Glove Selector.

To use Rawlings' Glove Selector and get a closer look at its complete product line, visit rawlings.com. And to review all of Worth's gear, click over to worth.com.

Just in time for the holidays, New Balance is unveiling its new MB 1100 spike, perfect for the baseball fan looking for superior fit and performance.

New Balance is the only cleat manufactured in multiple widths (medium, wide and extra wide), because a proper fit puts the spikes in the right place for optimal traction, lets your foot f lex naturally, and stands up to the pressure of the game.

The 1100 is constructed on a two-width outsole to provide the most accurate fit possible and will be available in mid- and low-cut versions. The shoe features an Abzorb full spike pressure relief insert, and an Internal Support System that hugs the waist of the foot for enhanced shock absorption and midfoot support.

Equipped with an NB 8 Metal spike design for superior traction, the 1100 provides additional comfort with a foam padded collar and mesh tongue. A full-grain leather upper provides durability and breathability.

With the MB 1100, you can run, throw and bat your best, and you'll only slide on purpose.

For more on the MB 1100 and other New Balance baseball shoes, visit newbalance.com.

The company that made exercise apparel more comfortable and cooler has now introduced polo shirts and pleated shorts that offer the same great wear while also featuring a more professional look both on the field and off.

Under Armour's Performance Polo and Pleat Shorts were field tested on professional athletes and coaches to assess fit, feel and moisture transport. They were designed for the active person and figure to gain popularity thanks to the same power-stretch fabric that has made Under Armour's exercise attire a mainstay in any active person's wardrobe.

The Pleat Short also incorporates a micro poly twill for refined comfort and moisture transport, making the shorts ideal items for golf and tennis, as well as more formal settings.

Under Armour's new Performance Hood complements the recent line of attire. The hooded sweatshirt offers moisture transport and breathability in a versatile long-sleeve training top. The hood was constructed to provide superior fit and coverage, and the marsupial pouch doubles as a hand warmer and extended pocket.

Under Armour features numerous options for gift ideas for the active person in your life, from underwear to outerwear, none better than its latest line of performance apparel.

You can get complete information on all of Under Armour's products, purchase them, and even watch the "Protect This House" series of commercials and more at underarmour.com.