If Baseball Is America, Cooperstown Is Its Home

Cooperstown, New York is one of the most unassuming places in the country.

It is not close to any major highway. There really is no easy way to get to it. Yet, every year, thousands of people descend upon the tiny village at one time or another to visit what can only be called Baseball Mecca.

And, every year, my former college roommate and I make the trek out for the visit. But we go on a weekend that is different than the rest—Induction Weekend.

It can best be described as a baseball fan’s dream. Swarms of people mill around the neighborhood shops and restaurants. Everything is baseball—The Shortstop Restaurant, Mickey’s Place, The Doubleday Café, The Home Plate, The Triple Play Café—and the locals seem like they would not have it any other way.

You can count on one hand the number of stores that aren’t related to baseball. One of them is the only chain store in the entire village, a CVS. There are several streets in the area, but everything needs to run through Main Street. During this weekend, traffic is not allowed to enter from either side of the main drag, and fans own the town.

As you walk down the road, the Hall of Fame literally appears out of nowhere: a large brick building that seems out of place amongst the older shops, yet fits right in with the décor.

Now, I could write for pages on the treasures that are found in the Hall of Fame, or the feeling of awe that seems to strike all visitors as they enter the hall of plaques, or how, regardless of their actual age, everyone smiles like a five-year old.

However, this weekend experience is about more than just what is behind the large, wooden doors that house the elite of baseball. This weekend is about being around baseball and being in the company of legends. And those are some of the stories I want to share.

My first trip to the ceremony was right after college. I had to see my childhood hero, Wade Boggs, enshrined.

In all honesty, I was not sure what I was getting myself into. My first encounter would make me realize what this weekend was going to mean. Now, my father had taken me to the Hall before and explained the significance of some of the accomplishments. He never prepared me for anything like this.

My roommate and I wanted to take everything in. Getting to town early, we walked into one of the shops to look at the memorabilia. As we entered, Willie Mays was coming down from the upstairs loft. He waves, acknowledges the crowd, smiles for some pictures, and disappears. I knew then that this was going to be something special. It was that weekend that I met and spoke with Harmon Killebrew, something I will never forget.

My favorite story, though, happened the following year.

We sat down to dinner one night. The restaurant had on a Red Sox-Yankees game on ESPN. Could not have asked for anything better. As my friend and I sat talking and watching the game, one of the greatest closers of all-time walked into the restaurant. Goose Gossage asked for a table and was seated right next to us.

Gossage seemed to be able to tell that we were nervous and over-the-top excited. It's sad that two 20-something guys did not know what to say, but Goose did, “If I had to throw to Posada every day, I think I’d shoot myself. He has guys shake him off on every pitch, like he doesn’t have a clue.” I have to paraphrase, because the Goose was more colorful. But Gossage made his point.

Two hours later, we finish talking baseball and all head on our own ways. Gossage seemed less like the elite player that he was and more like any guy in a bar. He just wanted to talk some ball.

And stories like this come from everyone that has been to Cooperstown for this weekend. One of my good friends tells of how he walked into a store just as it was about to close. He stood around one of the racks when Reggie Jackson came in with his family.

Jackson proceeded to sign autographs for the staff, my friend, and anyone else that was in the area. He smiled, took pictures, and made everyone there feel important.

Or when Vida Blue walked into a bar (sounds like a joke) with most of the other pitchers from The Black Aces. They drank beers, challenged everyone to darts, and closed the place down late that night.

What about the time when a freak thunderstorm hit, trapping two friends in a doorway with former National League Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe. These guys know what it means to be here, and they all take it seriously. It is one of the best ways they can reach out to fans. And they all do.

Simply walking down the road, you pass some of the best executives and minds that baseball has to offer. Friends of the inductees line the roads, and everyone wants to talk baseball. It doesn’t matter what the hat is on your head, in Cooperstown, it comes down to the sheer enjoyment of the game of baseball.

So, on Sunday, when I sit in the open field that will house the induction of Goose Gossage and Dick Williams, I’ll continue to appreciate the little things the game of baseball offers during this weekend. Whether it’s Stan Musial’s harmonica rendition of “God Bless America”, the introduction of the living legends prior to the ceremony, or even Bud Selig’s drawn out speech, you won’t hear boos in the crowd.

People will cheer for the Oneonta Tigers playing at Doubleday Field and challenge their personal best fastball against the radar gun. Whether nine or 90, everyone gets a chance. Regardless of how many years I go, this town and these stories never get old.

Baseball is America’s game, and Cooperstown, New York is its home.