I saw very quickly why people call the trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame a pilgrimage.
Cooperstown, New York, is very far off the beaten path. You leave the main highway at Herkimer, drive through the quaint town of Mohawk onto a winding minor highway that passes through many small towns, reach the city, and try to find a parking place that is valid week-round on skinny Main street. Depending on the time of year, you may need to deal with driving snow, bitter cold, unploughed roads, and Amish buggies.
When you reach Cooperstown, you are immediately struck with the impression of a classic country-side town, full of friendly residents and picturesque houses. Shining at the centre of it all is the holy grail of this quixotic quest, the mecca of baseball, the Hall of Fame.
Surrounded by baseball-themed businesses, the Hall of Fame radiates humble splendour. The building is regal, yet not flashy; honest, but not boring. It does very little to publicize the fact that immense treasures lie inside, yet does very little to discourage it.
The Hall of Fame staff recommend that all visitors view the thirteen-minute long video about "The Baseball Experience" on the second of three floors before entering the museum itself. The film does an incredible job getting the viewers into the mood for a comprehensive tribute to the game, and then the pilgrims are led through windows showing, quite simply, the history of baseball from Ancient Egypt to the present day, featuring famous baseballs, gloves, jerseys, bats, shoes, and much more. There are also biographies of notable players, and exhibits detailing Babe Ruth, the history of African-Americans in baseball, and the history of women in baseball.
On the third floor, one is treated to vignettes of baseball off the playing field. Whether looking at the original costume of the Philly Phanatic, observing the structure of baseball's earliest stadia, listening to various renditions of Take Me Out To The Ballgame, posing with wax figures of famous baseball fans, trying to find your favourite player's baseball card, or rolling over in gut-busting laughter at a video of Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" skit, the third floor gives you an entertaining look at anything baseball.
The third floor is not devoid of game memorabilia, though; it has the game ball from every no-hitter thrown since 1940, a room containing the all-time and active leaders in various statistical categories (raise your hands if you knew that Eddie Cicotte holds the record for lowest career ERA, or that Carl Crawford has the third-most triples out of any active player). There is also a memorable celebration of the World Series, where one can view the most epic moments in Series history, ranging from Enos Slaughter's mad dash to Kirk Gibson's pinch-hit homerun.
Then, you move onto the most majestic and stoic part of the Hall of Fame on the first floor: the Plaque Gallery. Featuring a bronze portrait and biography of each honoured member, the plaques are relatively simple yet extremely poignant. They are ordered by the year they were inducted, with the exception of the original five members, who are shown on a curved rotunda at the centre of the room. The room gives fans an opportunity to connect with their boyhood idols, letting them stop and pose for pictures with their heroes. The hall also has the flags of every country with players represented in the hall, and thanks to Fergie Jenkins I got to see the maple leaf in its glory in the Hall of Fame.
After the Hall of Plaques, there is a bookstore, a souvenir shop, and a gallery of paintings, sculptures, and stunning photographs of baseball. There is also a little display honouring the sportswriters and commentators of baseball, as well as movies about the sport.
Despite my being only a peripheral baseball fan, I quite easily became enraptured in the magical qualities of the Hall of Fame. The building was seeping with history symbolic of lazy summer afternoons, heroic efforts, and the dreams of fans of all ages. Despite being a lifelong Yankee hater, I got choked up when I read about Babe Ruth's unfulfilled dream of being the manager of the New York Yankees and his final autograph, as well as Lou Gehrig's battle against ALS. I marvelled at the way baseball used to be played, and giggled at Barry Bonds' asterisked home run ball.
The only issue I have with the Hall of Fame is that they gloss over the rough bits of baseball history. The only mention of the Black Sox Scandal is a few artefacts in a tiny, walled off box, and the only mention of the steroid era is a tiny blurb saying that some records may be due to performance-enhancing substances. There is absolutely no visible mention of the Pittsburgh drug trials, or Pete Rose's gambling scandal.
All in all, that is a minor quibble. The National Baseball Hall of Fame is an excellent place to visit, whether you are a diehard baseball fan or a not quite as diehard baseball fan. Either way, you will get caught up in the magic of the place, making the pilgrimage well worth it.
If you do go, go to the Cooperstown Diner for lunch. They have the biggest hamburgers you will ever see, and they are juicy and delicious.
Tatiana Golovin
Shanon Lersh
Sled Hockey
Yankees World Series Parade
Comments (19) Add A Comment
EXCELLENT blog redwing!!! i hope to one day make the pilgrimage myself
you have described it beautifully, and i hope you keep the blogs coming from your trip
Tha Fizz
Austin, TX
Total Comments (11518)
Will do... I'm in Springfield already.
Redwing19: retired
Halifax, NS
Total Comments (35151)
Thanks RW. I have never been to Cooperstown - till now.
Appleseed
Detroit, MI
Total Comments (947)
Very good Blog, I feel like I have been there now
Lakers#1: Iron Bowl
Jacksonville , AL
Total Comments (46983)
Thank you very much for the kind words!
Redwing19: retired
Halifax, NS
Total Comments (35151)
Pssh, Canadians dont know baseball.
Gu3 - I BELIEVE!
Birdland, MD
Total Comments (52017)
Apart from asking what the hell where you doing in that Hall of Fame instead of the hockey one...There is no wrong to this blog.
I actually visualized myself walking thru the halls with you as my guide. Telling me these amazing...relics as you put them. Finding out those strange yet amazing stats.
Also how you describe the quest to arrive at the Holy Grail of baseball makes it so much better because you painted a picture of secret and hidden...Godliness.
Truly Fantastic jobs thru the eyes of a Hockey fan.
I just hope you went thru my island's flag of Puerto Rico and learned from the great Roberto Clemente.
The True Joker
Total Comments (11609)
I saw Clemente's jersey, glove, and yes flag. He is truly an inspiring figure, whether you're Puerto Rican or not.
The HHOF is my fourth stop on this road trip. Well, fifth if you include Boynton Beach.
Redwing19: retired
Halifax, NS
Total Comments (35151)
very well done, especially for an off season piece
robertpjohnson
Marlboro, MA
Total Comments (8)
I wish I could have seen it...He is one of the few guys that I admire.
The True Joker
Total Comments (11609)
Well done blog.
Sports Fan-returns…
Total Comments (6652)
What a spectacular tribute to what sounds like an incredible museum of a great game. I am always impressed by your writing -- both its technical aspects and the way you can engage the reader to bring them with you on your journey. Great work, Redwing, and I can't wait to see what else you bring to the table on your voyage to witness the glories of sport.
Bigalke
Springfield, OR
Total Comments (22305)
I agree with Bigalke. Very nicely written. You have a leg up on the competition, going into journalism school. Despite years and years in the northeast, I somehow failed to make the trip to Cooperstown myself, though it's certainly on my list.
Porkins: I stole…
The Triangle, NC
Total Comments (30249)
I enjoyed your blog as well. I've never been to the Hall, but can't wait to go one day.
NBAMatt628
Winter Haven , FL
Total Comments (104)
Brilliant piece RW!
Mac Brody-Out for a…
Sj, CA
Total Comments (10376)
I live in Oklahoma but have made the pilgrimage to Cooperstown twice, both times in the middle of winter. Despite the weather and the cold I recommend this time of year, both times I went there were no more than a dozen other visitors. It was like I had the Hall all to myself.
This article was great in that the author gives a very realistic recounting of a typical visit. Kudos for making me feel like I was back there again.
One nice thing about both trips is that the Post Office is directly across the street from the Hall, so you can buy your souvenir postcards in the HOF gift shop, fill them out during lunch in the Cooperstown Diner, and drop them in the mail right there in order to get the Cooperstown postmark on them.
hallmonster
Stillwater , OK
Total Comments (1)
Well done, RW. I've never been to Cooperstown, but as Appleseed and lakers said above, I feel as though I've been there now. Thank you for the journey.
Rocktman
Cincinnati, OH
Total Comments (1524)
Awesome blog. As I've said before, I swear that I will one day make it to Cooperstown. Perhaps a spring break trip to New York is in order. I do think that it's a shame that the Barry Bonds homerun ball has an asterisk on it. However, there is nothing better than to see the history of any sport right in front of your eyes. I visited the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, MO, last March. I have seen the racing Hall of Fame at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (and actually wound up with my picture in the 2007 visitor's brochure). I have visited the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, which is right in my backyard in Colorado Springs, CO. But the one place that I want to visit before I die is Cooperstown.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3649)
Outstanding. Even though I grew up in CT, I never made the journey to Cooperstown. Thanks for taking me there today.
rstowe
Newport News , VA
Total Comments (47606)
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