Hall of Fame schedules replacement game for 2009

The inaugural Hall of Fame Classic will be held on June 21 — Father’s Day and the first day of summer. It will replace the Hall of Fame game, discontinued this season after 68 years because of scheduling problems.

“We’re honored to be a part of this,” said Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, president of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which is working with the Hall of Fame to put on the Hall of Fame Classic.

“There’s a lot we can do to promote the game of baseball. This will be a great success and hit here in Cooperstown. It will be a lot of fun — autographs, family entertainment. That’s what it’s all about,” he added.

Next June’s game at Doubleday Field will feature four Hall of Famers and more than 20 other retired major leaguers, although the decision on who will play will not be made until later, Hall of Fame spokesman Craig Muder said.

“We are extremely excited to start a new Cooperstown tradition for multigenerational families everywhere,” Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said. “Given that Cooperstown is steeped in nostalgia, a legends-style baseball game is a natural fit.”

Idelson said the game will be part of a weekend of activities and programs, including a skills clinic featuring former major leaguers, a hitting contest and autograph sessions.

Major League Baseball announced in late January that the Hall of Fame game was ending because of scheduling problems.

Although U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and other members of Congress objected, baseball commissioner Bud Selig defended the move, explaining that major league teams play 162 games in 183 days and that the addition of interleague play and interdivision matchups made scheduling two teams for a game in Cooperstown exceedingly difficult.

The last game was scheduled for June 16 between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres but it was rained out.

Eliminating the game was unpopular with many fans, including Cooperstown native Kristian Connolly, who started a Web-based crusade to save the annual game.

“No longer should Cooperstown be known as the ‘Home of Baseball,’ but instead it should be known as ‘The Tomb of Baseball,”’ she said in a statement. “For 68 years, kids have been able to enjoy connecting with their modern heroes of the diamond, but now they’ll be replaced by kids who will watch old men whose playing careers they did not witness, ghosts whom they know nothing about.”

Connolly had sent letters to Selig, players’ union leader Donald Fehr, a select group of major leaguers from all 30 clubs, and the owners and front office leaders.

In July, Connolly met with Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy during the Hall’s annual induction weekend to urge him to bring back the annual game, but was unsuccessful.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

PrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email