If you’re a baseball fan who has never been to Cooperstown, it is a must atop your “bucket list.” This quaint, cozy little town in upstate New York will be abuzz this weekend, as tens-of-thousands of fans make the pilgrimage to baseball’s shrine – The National Baseball Hall of Fame.
And make no mistake, the sound of cash registers ringing along Main Street and in the Hall of Fame shop will be music to the ears of baseball’s sacred community. Induction Weekend is critical to the town and its baseball monument. And, whenever a Red Sox or Yankee great is inducted, the dollars usually flow in record numbers. So with Sox legend Jim Rice and 5-year Yankee Rickey Henderson being honored, everyone will be running to the bank this year.
The question is, what about the future of this American landmark? What effect will the steroid-era have on the Hall of Fame and Induction Weekend?
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball needs to keep honoring its greatest assets. Like no other professional sport, baseball’s tradition is part of the game itself. So, with the likes of Bonds, Clemens, McGuire, Sosa, Palmeiro – and now Alex Rodriquez and Manny Ramirez all questionable future Hall of Famers – where does that leave the business of the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Could the steroid-era be the demise of this great baseball and American tradition and the beautiful town of Cooperstown?
Without great players being inducted on a yearly basis and those registers making music on Induction Weekend, where will the revenue be generated? How long would MLB and philanthropists keep the doors open at 25 Main Street? And even if indefinitely – or, at least until we move away from this cheating era – what about the small, independent stores and vendors in this little community? Who will save them?
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball need to make some tough decisions in the near future regarding the fraudulent numbers these great players allegedly perpetrated on baseball and its fans. The business of Cooperstown was looking forward to the induction of these great players. Without them, they could be doomed.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and MLB cannot leave these critical decisions in the hands of baseball writers who vote for players eligible for the Hall of Fame. That burden is not their responsibility – nor should it be.
It’s time for the leaders of the game to step up and set new guidelines to ensure the business of baseball and pilgrimage to Cooperstown continues for years to come.
As time goes on, fans will forgive and forget that these players cheated. Because of that, MLB will not have to “step up” anytime soon. Just sidestep the issue as they’ve been doing for the past few years. The Baseball Hall of Fame may have to wait a little longer for the “Baseball 7″ to get to Cooperstown, but they will get there, and the cash registers will continue to ring.
Comment by sailorman — July 25, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
Sailorman… The problem is, it’s not up to the fans. It’s up to the Baseball Writers. Look how long it took them to forgive Rice for his anti-media position while a player. If it takes them that long to forgive the steriod-users, Cooperstown could be a ghost town.
Comment by Delmartian — July 25, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
I don’t know what percentage of their income Induction Weekend is, but I agree that it’s probably VERY important. And, your right, without those players, who’s going into the HOF in the coming years? How can the HOF survive without inductees? Let’s just pray they don’t start putting in borderline players for the sake of the Hall. Rice is a borderline player.
Comment by MrMet — July 25, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
MrMet,
Typical NY attitude! Rice a borderline player? Well, let’s see … From 1975 though 1986, Jim Rice dominated the American League. During that 12 year period, he led all AL players in games, at-bats, runs, hits, homers, RBIs, slugging, total bases, extra base hits, multi-hit games and go-ahead RBIs. From 1977 through 1979, he became the only player in major league history to record three straight seasons with at least 35 home runs and 200 hits. In 1978 he became the first American League player since Joe Dimaggio in 1937 to collect over 400 total bases in a season, a feat that has yet to be matched again in the almost 30 years since.
But I forgot, he’s a borerline player!
Comment by photoman — July 25, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Photoman…Rice had some great years. But look at his overall numbers: BA .298, HR 382, RBI 1451, and hits 2452. Very good, but are they really HOF numbers?
Hey, I’m actually glad he got in … but he is a borderline HOFer.
Comment by MrMet — July 25, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
Jim Rice was a dominant player for a decade. Unfortunately, his last few years ruined his final numbers due to his failing eyes. He refused to wear glasses and, thus, his final stats suffered.
Comment by BBallGuy — July 26, 2009 @ 10:21 am
Was Rickey Henderson clean?
Comment by D.Blue — July 26, 2009 @ 10:22 am
Ricky was as clean as Bonds, et al. Just my opinion…
Comment by BBallGuy — July 28, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
Why is no one else talking about the potential damage to the Baseball HOF if these players are not inducted. The writer is right…the BHOF needs the revenue generated by Induction Weekend, plus needs to continuously add assets…players.
Comment by NYY4ever — August 5, 2009 @ 10:34 am
they should make a steroid wing in the HOF for those who did use steroids such as Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGuire, Palmeiro, A-Rod,Ramirez, and Big Papi
Comment by #1NYYfan — August 11, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
А чего у блога такая посещаемость низкая… Кстати на твой блог порчу навели, помогу снять
Comment by week — September 14, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
Очень хороший сайт, однако неплохо-бы сделать версию для смартфонов.
Comment by Инвестор — September 15, 2009 @ 12:58 am