Cool Facts About the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum

From the infancy of the sport, to the latest World Series, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York is chock full of awesome memorabilia, cool exhibits and a ton of history. Situated in the beautiful Western New York region, here are some facts about the Hall of Fame to know before making a visit.



First Inning
The Hall of Fame was first dedicated in June of 1939 in the midst of the Great Depression. First established as a clever way of bringing tourists into the out-of-the-way small town of Cooperstown, New York (a long trek northwest of New York City), it has blown up into one of sport's best places for history and fun.

Starting Lineup
Players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame every year since it's founding, but the very first crop included such baseball luminaries as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson. Since then, an exclusive group of 300 people are proud honorees.

Home Run of a Weekend
Hall of Fame Weekend is held every July, and is one of the venue's signature (and most popular) events. Featuring a gala honoring the year's new inductees, an awards ceremony, and the honorary installation of the plaques, baseball fans from far and wide make the trip to attend the festivities free of charge.

Take Me Out...
Towns don't get much smaller than Cooperstown, so if you're traveling here for something more than the Hall of Fame, odds are you'll be disappointed. Two of the nearest cities (Syracuse and Albany), are a few hour drives in opposite directions, and besides Howe Caverns (a popular cave destination), there's really not much else for a curious tourist to see.

Concessions
Along with the Hall of Fame & museum, the property (and surrounding area) also includes a variety of places to sit back, relax, and have a warm meal. Dining options include a baseball-themed establishment called Shoeless Joe's, Portabello's (for Italian fare), and Villa Isidoro, just to name a few.



Sources:
Baseball Hall of Fame Official Website
Cooperstown, NY Site