Experience History: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Feel the need for a baseball immersion? Travel to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
About a 6½-hour interstate drive from Butler, the hall is a veritable candy store of baseball memorabilia, statistics and the stories of athleticism and grit that have made the game appealing to millions. On display are everything from uniforms to trophies, bats, balls, plaques, trophies and oodles more that have been touched and earned by baseball’s greats.
Each Major League baseball team has its own story told in the Your Team Today exhibit, including the Pirates. Displayed in the Shoebox Treasures exhibit of baseball cards is a rare T206 Honus Wagner card.
The 15-minute “Generations of the Game” film connects baseball to American history. The Diamond Dreams is popular exhibit on the history of women in baseball.
Special events elevate the in-person experience. Induction Weekend, coming up July 21 to 23 and capped with the Hall’s Induction Ceremony, remains the piece de resistance for baseball fans. There’s plenty of room on the lawn for free last-minute seats, but for an ideal experience, visitors should start planning their trip in January, when inductees are announced.
July and August are the busiest times of year at the Hall. If that is not your thing, make a fall visit, in early October when the leaves are changing, the crowds are less and the weather is still warm.
Still hungry for baseball? Tour the hall’s website at baseballhall.org, where the bases are loaded with stats, stories and stars.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is at 25 Main Street, Cooperstown, N.Y.
