The HOF Road Trip--National Baseball Hall Of Fame

The fireplace was a welcome sight as it cheery flames warmed the breakfast room. The buffet breakfast at the Inn at Cooperstown was small but delightful. There was fresh mixed fruit, raisin bread, spinach and egg frittata or sausage and egg frittata and the offer of fresh baked muffins along with hot drinks and juices. 

One of the best things I love about traveling is meeting new people. We sat and talked with a couple from North Carolina about their travels and their plans for future trips. Of course we shared some tips about some of the places we had been to that were in their plans. Another cup of coffee and we were off into the wonderful sunshine albeit chilly air. 

A ten minute brisk walk and we were entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Upon entering, we were greeted by a guide who asked us where we were from and who our favorite baseball team was. Again we were sympathized with as the Guardians had just lost their opportunity to continue to the World Series. We were handed a list of significant pieces of the history of the Indians/Guardians team and where we could look for them. 

Trying to take in the history of so many amazing players from the past was overwhelming. It was fun to see Babe Ruth's uniform and read his history, see the pictures and articles on the walls and some of the videos (or rather films) from the past. 

The same was true of many of the other featured players from the past. The museum is divided up a bit strangely. There was one section that featured black players and highlighted the black baseball leagues of the past and of course the players who opened the doors to integrating those players into the teams we have today. Players like Jackie Robinson and Larry Dolby instrumental in opening doors for others and of course both having a Cleveland connection.

As we wandered from section to section, we came upon lots of items related to the Indians. We found old uniforms, gloves (hard to believe they could actually catch a ball with some of them), old bats and some not so old (one was Jim Thome's) and lots of trophys. 

 The videos were all interesting and I think you could spend more than a morning if you watched them all the way through. We lingered by the ones we were most interested in. One of the things we smiled at was a video of kids playing I believe in the Dominican Republic with makeshift gloves made from cereal boxes.

 There were also examples of souvenir and fan wear. I loved the apron with the old chief on it.

 In the area that featured players of today, we found the Jose Ramirez helmet and several other items in a lockerroom display that was sectioned off with one locker for each of the MLB teams. 

 And then there was the Gold Glove award. It really is a gold glove! Painted I'm sure.

 Once we were finished with the museum part of the hall we went to the actual Hall of Fame whcih is quite impressive when you enter it--almost like a Greek temple. The plaques of the hall of famers are organized by years in sections along each wall and in the back of the hall. It was fun looking at all of them and remembering some of the players from years past and the historical players who had set some of the records that still stand today. 

 All together, we spent a little over three hours exploring the whole murseum and hall. Mark another tik off the bucket list for me.  But what would we now do with our afternoon? Hmmm.