On a cool, overcast October morning, the ‘Giants’ and ‘Dodgers’ were set to square off amidst historical surroundings staring them in the face. No, it wasn’t the Polo Grounds or Ebbets Field. Nor was it Dodger Stadium or AT&T Park. The location had much more significance than even those beloved venues. The 10:00 a.m. ‘game’ was being played at the hallowed, although perhaps challenged, birthplace of the grand old game — Cooperstown, New York at Doubleday Field.

Doubleday Field, two blocks away from the National Baseball Hall of Fame, sits on what was once farmland and saw its first game played between adults on September 6, 1920. From 1940-2008, Major League teams used to play an exhibition game on the site during the annual Hall of Fame Induction weekend each year. While that tradition is now gone, the field is used by various teams throughout the spring and summer.

On this October day, those teams wearing Giant and Dodger uniforms consisted of ‘fantasy type teams’ just playing for the fun of it in the town that is truly a baseball fan’s Disneyland. These days Doubleday Field is available for teams to rent (at the cost of $400-$550 per game depending upon the date) from mid-April through the Columbus Day weekend.

Our arrival at the game, was purely coincidental, as Jean and I decided to embark upon a ‘day trip’ to one of my favorite destinations. We were accompanied by friend and colleague Mike Fogarty, who had once remarked Cooperstown was one of those places he would like to check off his bucket list. On this day that mission was accomplished.

After watching a bit of the game, we walked past the baseball-laden storefronts on the village’s main drag that derive their livelihood from the hordes of baseball lovers constantly descending on the town. Along the way, we plunked down at an eatery for lunch served by waitresses wearing t-shirts that proclaimed “Cooperstown…a drinking town, with a baseball problem.”

A short time later, we entered the Hall of Fame. This was not my first rodeo, as this wonderful baseball shrine has long held special memories for me. My father first took me there during my own Little League days to learn about the baseball greats enshrined there. Many years later, as a Little League coach, I took my teams on numerous visits so they would have the same opportunities.

When my son, Doug, was growing up, his favorite player had been Hank Aaron. Knowing this, Dr. Creighton J. Hale, then Little League Baseball, Inc. president, provided our family with tickets to Aaron’s HOF induction ceremonies where we sat just a few feet away from Doug’s baseball hero. When my daughter Denise was married, my new son-in-law, Ric, scored big points by taking his new bride to Cooperstown as part of their honeymoon.

The museum’s grandeur is akin to those long-ago forgotten penny candy stores. There is so much to see; one does not know what to select first. Strolling through the Hall of Fame Gallery lined with the plaques of those enshrined, there are large likenesses of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams dressed in their Yankees and Red Sox uniforms with bat in hand. An excited youngster, probably six or seven, hurriedly brushed past me proclaiming proudly to his Dad, “It’s Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, and I didn’t even have to read the card!” Maybe that kid will bring his own children back there someday.

As we finished viewing the rows of individual player’s plaques, we came upon an empty alcove right next to the players who were inducted into the Hall in 2018. It appeared this was the area being readied for those players to be enshrined in 2019. Mike and I reached the same conclusion simultaneously — this was to hopefully be where Mike Mussina’s plaque will hang should he gain the necessary votes this January.

While discussing Mike’s potential induction chances, we struck up a conversation with one of the museum’s guides standing nearby.

“Mike Mussina should be here,” the guide enthusiastically stated. “Mussina, Andy Pettitte, and Roger Clemens are the only MLB pitchers who have won more than 100 games over a .500 record in their career, and they are not in the Hall of Fame. Every other pitcher who won more than 100 games over .500 is already enshrined here.” Perhaps 2019 will be Montoursville Mike’s chance to join the club.

Should that occur, no doubt many Lycoming County folks will be taking the four-hour ride north to Cooperstown.

Until the mid-1990s the HOF induction ceremonies were held on the lawn just outside the museum’s Library. The year Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn were inducted, more than 40,000 people showed up causing the ceremonies to be moved to a much larger outdoor area about a mile from the HOF. This past summer 58,000 fans were on hand with the all-time record of 70,000 coming in 2007 when Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn were enshrined. HOF officials are estimating the crowds will swell to as much as 80,000 to 100,000 in the next couple of years when Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter received the call.

The HOF receives between 300,000-400,000 visitors each year and is open 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily Labor Day through the Memorial Day weekend. The summer month’s offer extended hours. During the Hall of Fame week, visitors number 8,000 a day. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the average attendance ranges between 2,000-3,000 a day.

In 1967 Dean Martin had a hit record entitled “Memories are Made of This.”
If you decide to make the trip, you should plan on spending three or four hours to go through the Hall and do it justice. If you do, you’ll certainly make your own memories!