Cooperstown Dreams, Part 3
The conclusion of a fun-filled odyssey.
On July 21, an annual Cooperstown tradition took place as Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer, Todd Helton, and Jim Leyland were ushered into the Hall of Fame. Banners commemorating the occasion were already in place when I visited. I vividly remember the time Beltré fouled a ball that landed in the row next to mine high in the Reserve level at Dodger Stadium.
It was also fun to see the surging Yankees atop the standings board that appears outside the Hall entrance. It’s going to be an interesting pennant race considering the way the Baltimore Orioles have played.
One of the best aspects of visiting the Hall is feeling a connection to referenced players and events. I was excited to see a ball from the game in which Clayton Kershaw set the Dodgers career strikeout record on display. Longtime readers may remember that Dorina and I attended that contest back on April 30, 2022.
Another great piece was a World Series ring from the Yankees’ 2009 season. I still remember November 4, 2009 as one of the happiest days of my life. Hideki Matsui drove in six runs including a second inning homer as New York won 7-3 in the clinching Game 6 against Philadelphia. Celebrating with my parents is a memory I cherish.
Exhibits detail the origins of the sport and even mention stick and ball games from ancient times, as shown in this display from Ancient Egypt. Of course a precursor to baseball is part of my heritage!
Speaking of Egypt, this incredible photo from 1889 shows Cap Anson and other ballplayers posing in front of the Sphinx as part of an “Around-the-World” tour. I was able to visit it for myself when my family lived in Cairo during the mid-‘90s.
Eight Men Out is one of my favorite baseball movies. The 1919 Chicago White Sox became known as the Black Sox, as some of the players were embroiled in a gambling scandal and ultimately accused of throwing games during the World Series. The 1988 film starring John Cusack details how the octet were banned from the game for life.
The Hall also displays a Rockford Peaches uniform worn in A League of Their Own which was released in 1992. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League allowed women to entertain fans while so many male players were involved in World War II.
When my sister and I attended a White Sox game during our 2007 visit to Chicago, we noticed pinwheels on the scoreboard at what was then called U.S. Cellular Field. These were a nod to old Comiskey Park, which had an “exploding scoreboard” that celebrated home runs with a unique flair.
The conference concluded with a banquet at the Farmers’ Museum. Prior to dinner, Justin and I enjoyed cocktails. I was thrilled to meet Gary Gillette during the reception. I mentioned that I once participated in his question and answer “chats” on ESPN’s website. He surprised me by asking for my contact information. Gillette also offered to give me a tour of Hamtramck Stadium, once home to the Detroit Stars, if I ever found myself in Michigan. It was the sort of experience that made me feel even luckier than I already did to be in attendance.
Phil S. Dixon, who I mentioned in Part 2, opened the dinner portion of the night by playing the national anthem on his trumpet. When I got to the buffet line, I told him how much his book had taught me about the Negro Leagues, adding that I also played the trumpet. Dixon thanked me and said that the pandemic helped him get back into music because of the free time it afforded him. He’s an inspiration in more ways than one.
Heaphy gave a tribute to Jerry Malloy, the late Negro Leagues researcher. She then praised Cassidy Lent, a Hall of Fame employee who worked hard to put on the conference. After an enjoyable meal and slab of carrot cake, we watched as three finalists competed to win the Significa Contest of Negro Leagues trivia. I didn’t make the final cut, but people at my table encouraged me to come to next year’s conference prepared with more knowledge. The location has yet to be determined.
JB Martin IV, a doctor who had presented about his family connection to the Memphis Red Sox on Friday, sat across from me at our round dinner table. It was another great chance to rub elbows with the finest scholars in the business. In the end, that’s the biggest reason I recommend attending the next Malloy to any baseball fan or history buff. Given everything included in the package, the price was very reasonable as well.
As much as I had enjoyed our spacious digs, Sunday was getaway day. Justin was kind enough to brave the rain and ferry me to the airport in Albany bright and early the next morning. As for Cooperstown, I would like to return for an induction, an East-West Classic tribute game, or the Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference. Until then, the memories I shared with my brother will keep me going strong.
