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A Day Trip to Cooperstown, Where Baseball History Lives

4/4/2014

17 Comments

 
Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.The Baseball Hall of Fame building is typically quiet during the first week of April.
By John Roberts


I love sports as much as travel, so I often look for ways to combine both passions.

Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is one of my favorite destinations. It's hard to accurately describe the quaintness of Cooperstown. A tiny village with about 2,000 residents was named for the family of author James Fenimore Cooper, who wrote the well-known novel "Last of the Mohicans." 

The town is located in the heart of the Central Leatherstocking region of New York state, an area flush with wooded countryside, lakes, family farms and sprawling estates.

Cooperstown is best known for the hall of fame, however. As you drive deeper and deeper into the region on your approach, it's amazing to consider how many kids playing the game of baseball around the world, from youngsters on rocky fields in Venezuela to teens running around diamonds in Texas, all dream of the possibility that they might one day be good enough to merit enshrinement in the hall. The building and museum are located on Main Street in the one-stoplight town, which is so serene for most of the year before bursting to life during the summer tourist season leading up to the annual induction ceremonies.


I took my visit during the opening week of the baseball season, and my good friend Craig Muder, who is the director of communications for the Hall of Fame, gave me a tour. 

The town and Hall of Fame are fairly quiet this time of year. Craig says about two-thirds of the visitors to the Hall of Fame and Museum come in a three-month period, June through August. Sandwiched in during the summer rush is the event that annually becomes the focus of the baseball world: the induction ceremony. This year, the event is July 27 and marks the highlight of the hall's 75th anniversary year.

I was privileged during my visit to get an inside look into some of the more unique aspects of the hall as well as pick the brain of Craig, someone who knows more about the game than almost anyone.

The hall features a library with a collection of more than three million documents. You can access items such as photos, books, newspaper clippings and team documents. Each player who has ever appeared in a Major League Baseball game has a file at the library. Access is granted by appointment, and you need to have purchased a museum admission and will be assisted by library staff when viewing items.

The highlight of my tour was my time in the library, officially the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center, where I viewed the very thick player file on Pete Rose and saw the player logs of every game played in 1947. This log is especially significant. It is the document that marks the line score of Jackie Robinson's first  day in the majors, April 15, thus breaking the color barrier.

Check out other highlights from my visit in the slideshow and video below. 

Thanks for reading and please consider subscribing to this blog so you never miss a post. Happy travels!

JR
Picture
The Doubleday Myth
Of course you know that Abner Doubleday invented baseball. You've at least heard something like that. But did you know that story is a myth? 

The elaborate tale of how a Union officer who directed the first shot at Fort Sumter at the beginning of the Civil War became associated with the origin of our national pastime and how Cooperstown became home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a fascinating one. 

NPR offers a concise version of the amazing story and how it came to be. 

Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

17 Comments
Angela Travels link
4/7/2014 07:08:33 am

Looks like a great place to visit as a sports fan. I am not a huge baseball fan, but I will travel for hockey games :)

Reply
JR
4/7/2014 07:12:30 am

Thanks for reading, Angela. I had visited many times when I was younger as we lived in upstate NY not too far for a trip, but it was great getting a peek behind the scenes. The college hockey Frozen Four is in my area this week. I was thinking of going to check that out. I love all sports. Lol.

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Manouk link
4/7/2014 07:38:50 am

Great report of your visit :)! As a Dutchie I'm not that much into baseball to be honest. However, I love all things history and culture so it also seems like an interesting place for me to visit. Interesting read about the whole 'founder of baseball story' as well!!

Reply
JR
4/7/2014 08:34:27 am

Thanks, Manouk. That Doubleday myth is a great tale, I think. Thanks for reading.

Reply
Samantha link
4/7/2014 02:07:22 pm

I'm not the biggest baseball fan but I do enjoy a game now and then. Looks interesting! Babe Ruth's bat is still in pretty great condition!

Reply
JR
4/8/2014 01:36:47 am

Thanks for reading, Samantha. The hall is interesting for bb fans and as a look at America through the decades, too. It was a unique treat to get to see the Babe's bat, which they have kept in good condition.

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Raphael Alexander Zoren link
4/8/2014 02:33:29 am

Amazing photos, it looks like a great adventure!!!

Reply
JR
4/8/2014 02:54:03 am

It was a great visit, Raphael. Thanks for checking out my post.

Reply
Dave Cole link
4/8/2014 03:29:10 am

Just in time for the start of baseball season. I would love to spend a couple of hours in the library, just as you did.

Reply
JR
4/8/2014 06:59:55 am

It's a pretty cool place, espec. if you like baseball. I had been a bunch of times but never with that kind of access. It was pretty cool. Thanks for your comment.

Reply
Erin Jorgensen link
4/8/2014 05:41:35 am

Ah, I believe this is within driving distance for me. May have to check it out. If Babe Ruth's bat should accidentally fall into my backpack, I assure you, it is by accident. ;P Cool post!

Reply
JR
4/8/2014 06:58:35 am

Ha. There are a bunch of other museums in town too, and the countryside is just gorgeous for a drive this time of year. Thanks for your kind words. Happy travels.

Reply
Elena link
4/8/2014 07:36:09 am

Born and raised in Europe I don´t know much about baseball so your post was quite educating (but I remember Los Padres when I was working near the stadium in San Diego)

Reply
JR
4/8/2014 08:00:26 am

Thanks for checking it out, Elena. Cooperstown is a quaint place to visit.

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Ashley and Alex link
4/8/2014 07:27:07 pm

I can't say I'm a huge baseball fan (more a fan of beer and hot dogs) but Alex loves baseball, especially the Dodgers. I know one day we will make it here and I will surprise him with all my awesome baseball founding knowledge thanks to you!

Reply
JR
4/9/2014 03:27:49 am

Baseball seems to be a sport that draws spectators who just might want a nice relaxing day out in the sun socializing and enjoying a beer whether you like the game or not. I'm glad you could find some good knowledge here to drop on Alex. Thanks for reading.
JR

Reply
John Carston link
12/31/2022 01:08:30 am

It's great that you elaborated that Cooperstown has 2,000 residents protecting Baseball's home. This Sunday, my wife and I will celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. I want to surprise her with a baseball premier retreat to enjoy our time together in a comfortable sitting room. Thanks for the tips. I will be calling a few lodging inns to see if I can make a reservation.

Reply



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