The Written Word
Still Photos
The view along Cooperstown’s Main Street. 
The stadium in the distance is Yankee Stadium upon our departure from NYC. 
Our first leg stretch after battling Manhattan traffic afforded this view down the Hudson River. 
The view of the backside of the Otesaga Hotel. 
The view of Otsego Lake over the 18th hole of Leatherstocking Golf Course. 
My dad and I along the pathway outside the Otesaga Hotel along Otsego Lake. 
A look at one of two stemware displays at the Otesaga Hotel. 
Ryne Sandberg’s personal stemware at the Otesaga Hotel. 
The view west across Otsego Lake from Lakewood Cemetery. 
There are plenty of spots to grab lunch during your visit. We’re fond of the Cooperstown Diner on Main Street. 
An interior shot of the Cooperstown Diner. 
It’s not really always sunny in Cooperstown, but it sure seems that way. 
This statue of author James Fenimore Cooper in Cooper Park outside the Hall of Fame. He was the son of the town’s namesake founder, James Cooper. 
A now-closed entrance to the HoF library. This is where the annual induction ceremonies used to occur. 
This is a depiction of a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player that sits in the statue garden outside the HoF plaque gallery and library. 
This sculpture of Dodger great Roy Campanella is in the statue garden outside the HoF library and plaque gallery. 
A former umpire, dad decised to strike a pose behind the Campy statue. 
Pitcher Johnny Podres follows through in the statue garden outside the HoF Plaque Gallery and library. 
This statue of Satchel Paige accentuates his leg kick. 
There’s a manual standings board outside the HoF.. 
These three titans of the game greet guests upon arrival, from left, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente. 
The look at Plaque Gallery from the main entrance area. 
The logo for the HoF Class of 2025. 
2025 Inductee Dick Allen’s display. 
Ichiro’s display as part of the 2025 class. 
2025 inductee Dave Parkers display. 
2025 inductee C.C. Sabathia’s display. 
2025 Inductee Billy Wagner’s display. 
The HoF Class of 2025. 
A look inside the Grandstand Theater. 
The entrance to the wing of the HoF that showcases baseball in the movies. 
Items from the movie “42” starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford. 
Items from the movie “A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis. 
Artifacts from “The Natural.” 
The entry into a portion of the HoF chronicling the life of Hank Aaron. 
A Hank Aaron statue found near the main entrance of the HoF. 
Hank’s Atlanta Braves uniform from the season when he broke Babe Ruth’s career HR record. 
Hank Aaron’s plaque. 
These wood sculptures of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams are found in the Plaque Gallery. 
The entrance into the women in baseball exhibit. 
Various artifacts from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. 
Patches from the Fort Wayne Kekiongas and Kenosha Comets of the AAGPBL. 
Kelsey Whitmore has been blazing trails for modern women professional baseball players. She spent last season with the barnstorming Savannah Bananas. 
New York Yankees’ broadcaster Suzyn Waldman’s microphone is displayed in the Diamond Dreams exhibit. 
The Ford Frick Award honors the game’s broadcasters. 
Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America who are honored by the HoF. 
Frick Award-winner Ernie Harwell’s microphone from the 1960s. 
The Big Red Machine was my team as a youngster. These artifacts brought back some memories. 
Reds great Johnny Bench’s plaque. 
Sparky Anderson’s plaque. 
The entrance to the Viva! Baseball exhibit. 
I was spoiled to watch Miguel Cabrera play in Detroit for over a decade. 
I was always a fan of Rod Carew and how fluid a hitter he was. Seeing his batting gloves in the Viva! Baseball exhibit was pretty neat. 
This display in the Viva! Baseball exhibit includes some Roberto Clemente artifacts. 
Here is Roberto Clemente’s hat. 
Roberto Clemente’s plaque. 
How crazy is it that three brothers made to the Majors from the Dominican Republic? And that they all played for the Giants at the same time? 
Edgar Martinez had one of the most famous hits in Seattle Mariners’ history. 
This Fernando bobblehead escaped the Jeffrey Loria exhibit and landed in the Viva! Baseball. 
The newest exhibit is Yakyu-Baseball. 
Ichiro also figures prominently in the Yakyu-Baseball exhibit area. 
In the Yakyu-Baseball exhibit, replicas of the umbrellas from the Yakult Swallows famous umbrella dance at Meiji Jingu Stadium. 
Shohei Ohtani as a Team Japan hero. 
Shohei Ohtani as a Los Angeles Dodger slugger. 
Shohei Ohtani as a Los Angeles Angel pitcher. 
Adam Wainwright (top) and Shota Imanaga hats. 
A closer look at Ichiro’s artifacts. 
An entire exhibit area is devoted to record holders. 
This display case is a tribute to longevity. Cal Ripken Jr. and Lou Gehrig among the honored. 
All seven Nolan Ryan no-hitter hats. 
Strikeout pitchers are highlighted in this display case. 
Single-game strikeout record holders. 
I was always a Placido Polanco fan while he was a Detroit Tiger. 
Gary Redus had himself quite a 1978 season in Billings (MT). 
These fellas could all get hits. 
It says something when not one but two new entrants in the 4-HR game were added this season. 
The tall and short of it. 
One of the all-time great trivia questions: Who is the only catcher to receive two perfect games? Ron Hassey, that’s who! 
This section was devoted to trading cards. 
Behind this glass are some of the most valuable/collectible cards in history. 
This Jackie Robinson Leaf card is well-protected under special glass and lighting. 
Having just seen Christy Mathewson’s gravesite earlier on this trip, seeing this Cracker Jack card was pretty cool. 
The famous Honus Wagner T206 baseball card is found behind protective glass. 
The first baseball from a paid admission game. Who thought to hang onto this!?! 
Honus Wagner’s locker from Forbes Field. 
Lou Gehrig’s Yankee Stadium locker is displayed. 
Lou Gehrig’s plaque. 
This Ted Williams batting average model was on display when I first visited the Hall 41 years ago. 
Bob Lemon and Bob Feller jerseys and Feller’s arm sleeve. 
As a Detroit Tigers’ fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Hank Greenberg’s story. 
I loved this quote from Joe DiMaggio. I wonder how many of today’s players take the same approach? 
Stan Musial’s locker is on display. 
Yogi Berra’s plaque. 
This special World Series-esque trophy showcases the Yankee victories. 
A little note about Bill Veeck Jr. in a separate display. 
Baseball lifer Bill Veeck Jr’s plaque. 
Curt Flood’s letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn indicating he planned to test the league’s “reserve clause.” 
NLBPA executive Marvin Miller’s plaque. 
Welcoming guests to the Whole New Ballgame. 
The reigning World Series Champions always have their own display case. 
Bo Jackson is, perhaps, the most famous two-sport star in this showcase. 
I realize the 1998 season wound up tainted, but the Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire chase brought me back to baseball following the 1994 labor stoppage. 
Yeah, that Ichiro fella could get on base. 
This iis first base from Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga’s imperfect perfect game. 
This helmet was from this season’s game between the Reds and Braves played at Bristol Motor Speedway. 
I actually have this very same bottle (never opened) in my basement! 
Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell were the Tigers’ doubleplay combination for a record 1,918 games. 
All these players benefited from modern medicine to extend their careers. 
I interviewed Mark Fidrych once for a story. If only I could have seen him pitch during the summer of 1976. 
The Savannah Bananas have a showcase. 
After talking to the Director of “Southpaw” about this game, it was prety cool to see Jim Abbott’s hat from his no-hitter. 
George Brett’s infamous pine tar bat is on display. 
Longtime New York Yankee captain Derek Jeter’s hat from Kalamazoo Central High School. 
This piece of fabric was recovered from the roof of Tropicana Field which was destroyed by Hurricane Milton. 
Ryne Sandberg’s plaque. 
The entrance to the Souls of the Game exhibit that focuses on black baseball and its impact on the game. 
The shoes of the one of the game’s fastest players, Cool Papa Bell. 
Joe Morgan’s glove and spikes and Lou Whitaker’s bat highlight some this case within the Souls of the Game exhibit. 
Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith’s high school letterman jacket from Castor, LA. 
Buck O’Neil was always and ambassador for the sport. It made sense he’d be there to greet me during my tour. 
Negro Major Leagues teams the Homestead Grays and Birmingham Black Barons uniforms are displayed in the Souls of the Game exhibit. 
As he should, Jackie Robinson has his own display case within the Souls of the Game exhibit. 
Jackie Robinson’s plaque. 
The entrance to the wing featuring nothing but bobbleheads! 
Willie Mays’s oversized bobblehead welcomes visitors to the Jeffrey Loria Bobblehead Exhibit. 
More bobbleheads, including an Andrew McCutcheon, Joey Votto, and Joe Carter. 
George Scott apparently collected Gold Gloves. Is that Ron Cey peeking over his shoulder? 
Randy Johnson bobblehead as a Montreal Expo. 
Part of the Jeffrey Loria Bobblehead Collection. 
More bobbleheads, this time an action sequence from 1992. 
A wide shot of the dome part of the Plaque Gallery. 
A long look at the Plaque Gallery from its entrance. 
The original class from a distance in the Plaque Gallery. 
A closer look at the original class. 
This look at the Plaque Gallery is from the ramp to the HoF library. 
Jim Leyland is the most-recent manager to be enshrined. 
Longtime Tigers’ teammates Jack Morris and Alan Trammell plaques are side by side. 
The Sandlot Kid stands sentry in front of Doubleday Field. 
There was some adult baseball being played at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field on the Saturday we visited. 
My dad and I outside the HoF’s doors following our recent visit.
Video
Audio
Fun Facts
- Traveling Party – Doug and his father, Jerry
- Last Time Visited – Doug last visited Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame in March 2023. Jerry was previously there over a decade ago.
- Must View EVERY Visit – Since the first time I visited the Hall back in 1984, I’ve always – without fail! – carved out time to sit and watch the entirety of Abbott and Costello’s famous “Who’s on First?” routine. It is my tradition and I pray the Hall never removes it from its display. I also always chuckle at least a couple of times at the incredible word play and banter between the two vaudevillians. It’s gown even more special after my former teaching colleague, Matt, and I performed it as part of our school’s talent show as a set change filler. So. Much. Fun.
- We’re Diner People – As Craig Muder discussed on the bonus episode of Conversations with Sports fans (linked above), there are many excellent choices for dining in Cooperstown. My dad and I, however, are diner folk, the Cooperstown Diner, that is. The menu, as you’d expect, is limited but it’s all delicious, portion sizes are ample, and the vibe can’t be beat. Get there early, though, as it’s only open through mid-afternoon.
- Running List of States Traveled To/Through (26 total) – Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, & Wyoming
- Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through (8 total) – Argentina, Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Japan, Korea, Scotland, United States, & Wales
- Distance Traveled – 210 miles from our hotel in Brooklyn, NY, to Cooperstown and then another 477 miles from Cooperstown to my home in Michigan for a total of 687 miles.
- Cumulative Distance Traveled After 26 Events – 67,587 miles
- Up Next: A visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame and attending the Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs’ NHL season opener, both in Toronto.