Baseball is at it again! At the precise moment that the game needs a feel good story, MLB decides it time to kill a 70 year tradition. As my good friend Curt Smith often says, "If Cooperstown didn't exist, you'd have to invent it! America's Valhalla!" Once a year, two major league clubs, often just major league uniforms with prospects, show up in Cooperstown to pay homage to the Grand Old Game. A chance to bring the game back to it's roots....at Abner Doubleday Field. One day. One bus trip. One shot to give
back...for just two teams. With the rotation, a player would be "Lucky" to make the trip twice in his career. But this is two inconvenient for the league, or the players. Forget the 9500 people who plan there summer around the trip. Forget the intimacy of baseball in this tiny venue, next door to the steps where they all hope to be one day. Of course, MLB has no problem playing regular season games in Mexico or Japan because we all know how "convenient" that is!
5 comments:
Thom...it's funny, I have been following baseball since the mid 1980's when I was 6 or 7 years old, and I have never once even heard of this game. Who plays in it? Why are no highlights ever on Sportscenter if it is such a rich tradition? Because it isn't! Who cares if the game is eliminated? No one outside of NY even knew they played the game!
Never heard of the Hall of Fame game on Hall of Fame Weekend? Doesn't matter, for Cooperstown and the Hall, this was a special event. As for the game itself...think of a Spring Training game in the summer...
Enjoyed the post Thom. I honestly didn't know it existed either but I have been to Cooperstown. Definitely an incredible experience, as is Springfield, Mass for hoops heads. Never been to Fort Lauderdale (Swimming Hall of Fame), but dying to go.
They all pale in comparison to Cooperstown because of how old the sport is. Baseball is truly a game soaked with tradition, which is why the last 10 years have been so brutal.
Anybody ever have any positive experiences with Spring Training trips? I'm considering doing one this year. Grapefruit League.
By the way, that last post was brought to you by Timmy Bones (NY, NY).
just seems like baseball has held on to this "tradition" so long and with all the issues baseball has to overcome right now, why would MLB want to bring more bad press? just let the game die with dignity...
Maintaining the HOF Game during the season is more an issue for players then anything else. I understand Thom's point about playing games in Japan and overseas...however if you look at the overwhelming success the NBA has had bringing in out of country talent, combined with the talent coming out of Japan it is a win-win for MLB and a solid investment. I'm sure the MLBPA has no issue with that
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