Bill's Journal Special Entry

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Date: September 9, 2002

Location:  Cooperstown, NY

Opponent: the limited number of hours in a day

Travel companion: none

Link to my photos 

Site Summary:  If you want to learn more about the history of baseball, if you want to share with someone an appreciation for the game, or if you're from another country and want to learn what this crazy game is, this is the place to go. No place else I visited this summer comes even close to capturing the mystique that is the history of baseball. Sure, you get some of it in every stadium, as well as in places dedicated to the game's history, such as Baltimore's Babe Ruth Museum and Yankee Stadium's Monument Park. But the Hall of Fame brings it all together. The Hall of Fame is an ideal place to step back in time ... as well as to lose track of it. The day I was there, the Hall was open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. I got there as the doors opened. Part way through my tour, I checked my watch, expecting to see that it was around 11:30. It was 2:45. That's how addicting this place is. I especially enjoyed seeing the progression of the game itself as I toured the museum -- the development of the rules of the game, the terminology, the equipment, the stadiums. But regardless of what your particular slant is on the game of baseball, you'll find something to both interest and amaze you!

Best touring tip that I learned a bit too late:  The museum brochure and map that you are given as you purchase your ticket suggests that you start your tour on the second floor, which covers much of the history of baseball, with a different room covering each subsequent couple of decades. There's also a theater with an introductory film, a room dedicated to the Negro Leagues and Jackie Robinson, and one just on the Babe. Then they suggest going to the third floor, which has areas regarding stadiums (obviously of particular interest to me while on this trip), the history of baseball equipment, contributions of women in baseball, baseball cards, other U.S. leagues (such as Little League and the NCAA), and championship rings and awards. After that, end up on the first floor, in the actual hall of inductees. Finish in the area behind this that covers the media's impact on baseball, as well as a room just on baseball movies. I really wish I had done this in this order, but I first read the suggestion after I had already started with the hall of inductees. The reason to do it in the order they suggested?  Well, going through the second and third floors does an incredible job of immersing you in the history and mythology of the national pastime. It gets you in the proper frame of mind to appreciate the contributions and accomplishments of the members of the Hall. So much so that, when I completed my tour of the second and third floors, I returned to the primary Hall area, and reviewed it again.

Best reason to visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day:  According to that same brochure, there are a lot of special activities that the Hall of Fame hosts that take place only during their peak summer hours, so I missed a lot of those. On the other hand, if you have only one day, as I did, there's still more than enough to fill that day.

Doubleday Field:  The field named after the supposed inventor of baseball, and home of the annual Hall of Fame Game, is nice to visit and look at ... if you can get in. The day I was there, the gates to the primary grandstand directly behind home plate were open, so I was able to explore the classic wooden benches, narrow aisles, and pipe hand rails. But the rest of the field and stands were all gated off. The only way I could get any other decent view of the park was to ask a woman whose house backed up to the left field foul pole if I could go on her property to explore. 

Best way to assure yourself great seats for the Hall of Fame Game:  At the time I was there, there was a nice little house on Chestnut Street for sale, with a back yard backing up to left field. The views from the second floor over the fence must be incredible.

Best place to shop for a gift for the baseball fan who has everything:  If it has to do with baseball, and it can be bought or sold, you can probably find it in at least one of the shops on Cooperstown's Main Street.

Site grade: A+   Quite simply, this IS baseball at its best.

Overall grade of my experience in Cooperstown: A+   Cooperstown itself is a gorgeous village ... and baseball just makes it that much more grand.

-- Bill Verkuilen  biggbill@hotmail.com 

Return to Bill's Journal Home Page