No matter if you’re simply a casual observer or a die hard, can’t-get-enough baseball fanatic looking for a guaranteed memorable break in the action, a long weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y. and a visit to The National Baseball Hall of Fame may be just the ticket.
Situated at the southern end of scenic Otsego Lake between the Adirondack and Catskill mountains, Cooperstown, founded in 1786 by the father of noted American author James Fenimore Cooper, is less than a five-hour drive from the Philadelphia area.
Clearly a popular destination for baseball aficionados of all ages, this quintessential, “Main Street USA” American village, with roots dating back to the mid 1780s, attracts upwards of 300,000 visitors annually, with the majority coming between June and August to experience Hall of Fame and other local attractions.
“Many countries such as Japan, Venezuela and Mexico for instance, have their own Baseball Halls of Fame, but our National Baseball Hall of Fame here in Cooperstown was the forerunner and is therefore considered by many to be the “gold standard,” observes Baseball Hall of Fame Communications Director Craig Muder.
Indeed, housed within the walls of this venerable three-story red brick museum in the center of town are more than 60,000 square feet of exhibit space, showcasing priceless artifacts from the past and present, audio and video recordings and other extraordinary memorabilia honoring those who made significant contributions to the game.
“A couple of our more popular exhibits that come to mind is a rare and extremely valuable 1909 T206 Honus Wagner baseball card and the pine tar bat used by The Kansas City Royals’ George Brett in the now infamous 1983 incident during a game between The Royals and the Yankees at Yankee Stadium,” reflects Muder, adding that The Plaque Gallery is truly awe inspiring.
Capitalizing on a debunked myth that Union Civil War Major General Abner Doubleday invented baseball as we know it near Cooperstown, the town made it “ground zero” for the game and the perfect place to construct The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Philanthropist, newspaper publisher and heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune Stephen Clark built and eventually dedicated the now world-renowned structure on June 12, 1939, in honor of the game’s 100th anniversary.
In doing so, Clark and town officials also hoped that the move would revitalize a once-vibrant tourist trade in Cooperstown, which was still reeling from the Great Depression a decade earlier.
Among those on hand for the opening ceremonies were baseball immortals, such as Connie Mack, Honus Wagner, Tris Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, George Sisler, Eddie Collins, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth.
“In short, baseball wasn’t invented by any one person at any one time. Rather, it was the effort of many people formulating, agreeing to and ultimately publishing rules of the game, which, over many decades coalesced into the game we know today,” reflects Muder.
Since 1939, annual inductions into the Baseball Hall of Fame have been a signature event, attracting thousands of sports fans of all ages to the village of Cooperstown and a visit to nearby Doubleday Field, where many major league legends have entertained enthusiastic spectators in Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Classic exhibition games since 1940.
Award-winning Philadelphia sportswriter, broadcaster and playwright Ray Didinger recalls two distinct induction ceremonies that were especially memorable.
“The first one I ever attended was in 1982, the year Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Travis Jackson and Happy Chandler were all voted in,” recalls Didinger.
The second visit for Didinger was in 1995, when Phillies legends Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn were both inducted.
“There was an overwhelming Philadelphia presence,” reflects the seasoned journalist. “All you could see was a sea of red, with thousands of loyal fans wearing Phillies caps and jerseys for as far as the eye could see.”
In addition to The National Baseball Hall of Fame, there are plenty of other things that this small quintessential American village of just over 2,000 year-round residents has to offer.
Numerous boutiques, intimate cafes, shops featuring all kinds of collectibles and memorabilia, plus the always-popular Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum can be found near the center of town.
As for other attractions, The Farmers’ Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum a short jaunt from the center of town are definitely two places you’ll want to include on your itinerary.
Opera aficionados won’t want to miss The Glimmerglass Festival, a summer-only season of both well- and lesser-known operas, performed in the Alice Busch Opera Theater. Opened in 1987, this striking, acoustically pleasing center blends perfectly with the surrounding farmland on which it was built. The Glimmerglass Festival is reported to be the second-oldest opera festival in the United States.
Since its modest beginnings in the late 1700s, countless generations have visited the tiny village of Cooperstown, not only to explore the home of America’s favorite pastime, but also to gain understanding of, appreciation for, and connection with American life from a bygone era with the hope of creating a better tomorrow.
For more information, visit www.visitingcooperstown.com.
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