For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you would have known that I spent my weekend at Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame Inductions. I was lucky enough to get credentialed by MLB and the Hall for this event, which gave me access to some very cool opportunities.
This is the second event this month that I have been credentialed for, and I was definitely more comfortable as a result. Unlike the All-Star Red Carpet that was more of a celebrity event, this was a BASEBALL event, and everyone in the town was there for baseball.
It also happened to be my first wedding anniversary, so luckily my wife approved a little vacation weekend that was really a baseball weekend in disguise.
Like all my blogs, I will break it up into the categories below.
Enjoy.
What I Loved
Editor's Note: This is totally out of order chronologically, and I just wrote whatever came to my head first. Important to note that Main Street is completely blocked off the entire weekend, which is awesome.
Cooperstown Itself
In each of the bullets, I highlight little things, but you truly feel transported into a movie when you are in Cooperstown for this weekend. The weather was also perfect, adding to the beauty of it all. It is one of those things where I don’t think I could ever go again NOT this weekend. Every time you walked past somebody, they were talking about baseball. Everyone was happy to be there and share in the experience. The only time I saw someone frustrated or mad was Friday night. Outside our Inn, there was a couple having wine on the patio, and the husband was fighting with an AI bank agent. His card had been charged, and he was trying to report it, but the robot could not understand, so he just started screaming at his phone. Outside of that, it was truly an experience like no other.
The Parade
On Saturday night, most, if not all, of the Hall of Famers came down Main Street on the back of pickup trucks. Fans were setting up their lawn chairs two days in advance in anticipation of this. No one was actually sitting; you wouldn’t be able to see anything, but the chairs lined the street nonetheless. I didn’t think much of the parade when I saw it on the schedule. It was something we would go to, but maybe not stay the entire time. Boy was I wrong. It was electric. The fans, the players, the players’ families, my wife- everyone was eating it up. I talk about it at length at the beginning of our latest podcast, which you can watch below.
Press Conferences
This was my first press conference, so I was really there to learn how everyone handles themselves and asks questions. All three players were great. Carlos Beltran was very introspective and thoughtful in his responses, Jeff Kent was chaotic/funny, and Andruw Jones was relaxed and chill.
The Museum
The town is very old; you feel it in every building you walk into. While the Hall of Fame is historic, they have done a great job modernizing it and keeping it up to date. You could spend hours here going up to each exhibit and looking at everything they have. It being HOF weekend made it a little more difficult to maneuver around, but both times I went in, I spent over an hour looking at everything.
Hank Aaron Exhibit (My Favorite One)
The two players that really get their own space are Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Ruth is very early on the second floor. Once you go past the pre-1900/founding of baseball, you get the Ruth exhibit. It is very cool, and you can spend 15 minutes just reading about Ruth. Aaron’s is slightly smaller and is found on the third floor. I didn’t expect it either. You walk up to the third floor and are greeted by a Japanese doorway, which leads you into the international (mostly Japanese) exhibit. Not remembering what else there was, I kind of just assumed it was going to be that until the end, and then BOOM Hank Aaron. It is a great depiction of his entire life, and of course, there are a bunch of his home run balls. Important to point out that the 715 ball is not there. You would have to go to Atlanta to see that.
MEMORABILIA
It doesn’t matter what building you walk into; you will have the opportunity to buy some stuff. The museum itself has a great store right at the exit. I went there about five times because there is so much to look at. But outside of that, everything on Main Street has stuff you can buy. Is it overpriced? For the most part, yeah. I avoided adding to my autograph collection, but I got some hats and cool knick-knacks. Regardless, it is heaven for anyone who loves baseball.
Stagecoach Coffee
I could shout out a bunch of stores, but this coffee place across from our inn (Tunnicliff Inn) was AMAZING. Now, I don’t drink coffee on a regular basis, but throw a sweet and savory decaf latte in front of me, and I can’t say no. They also have an unbelievable bacon egg and cheese.
Seeing All The Players Up Close
I also mentioned this in my All-Star blog, but getting up close and interacting with the players not at a baseball field changes your perspective of them. When they are out of the uniform, they are just other guys. Really cool guys, but just guys.
What I Was ‘Mid’ About
Being A Suburban Diva
Living in the suburbs of the world's biggest city, you take for granted all the things you have access to at a moment's notice. Cooperstown doesn’t have any chains or corporations. It is all mom-and-pop and privately owned stores and restaurants run by people in the town. I love that, until I need something quick and I am running around trying to find supplies. This isn’t as much a complaint as it is a PSA. Just bring everything you think you need, because the closest town with “regular” stores is about 30 minutes away.
What I Didn’t Love
Grown Men Autograph Hunting
I spoke about this with the All-Star Red Carpet, but it was tenfold here at Cooperstown. Let me be clear, I have no issue with little kids asking for autographs. I do have an issue with grown men doing it. I would put the cutoff age at 20, and I think that is generous. However, the vast majority of the fans who were throwing themselves over the barricade were over 40. I have never seen anything like it. A player would come off their truck, kiss their wife, and then walk over to the side of the street to sign some autographs. As more players rolled up, the chaos spread out, and once one of the Hawks had the autograph they wanted, they would sprint down the sidewalk to the next player. I think it is fair to say that for most, this would be their exercise for the year. But yeah, it is something that needs to end. I understand the players want to go and sign for kids, but I do think security needs to be over there holding back these monsters.