Fan fights for Fame Game
Sometime late Monday afternoon one of the grandest of baseball traditions will end – and only the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres will be able to boast – or lament – that they played the final Hall of Fame Game at Cooperstown, N.Y.
Kristian Connolly still can’t believe Major League Baseball is ending the lone exhibition game left on the schedule and one so closely linked to the game’s beginnings. So he’s working to save it.
“I love my hometown, I love baseball, and this was a decision that was going to hurt both,” said Connolly, a 30-year-old who grew up in Cooperstown and interned at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Simply throwing in the towel on a nearly 70-year-old tradition, rather than making it work – in the interest of what is best for the sport – should be embarrassing for those making that decision.”
Soon after the decision was announced in late January, Connolly created the Web site savethefamegame.com. He’s also sent letters to baseball commissioner Bud Selig, players’ union leader Donald Fehr, a select group of major leaguers from all 30 clubs, and the owners and front office leaders.
“It’s all money, isn’t it? I think it’s a shame,” said Bob Feller, a Hall of Famer since 1962. “It’s an insult to the Hall of Fame and to the Hall of Famers. I just think that they should do it for the fans. What do they do for the fans, anyway? Take their money? Raise their prices?”
From its inception in 1940 until 1978, the Hall of Fame Game was played the same day as the annual induction ceremony. The game was switched in 1979 to the day after the induction ceremony and remained a big hit, usually selling out within hours. Six years ago, it was moved to mid-June because of scheduling problems.
“It’s not about the schedule,” scoffs Connolly. “Major League Baseball can schedule games in Japan, China, Mexico, Memphis, Orlando and Puerto Rico, so isn’t it likely that they could find a way to hold a game in Cooperstown?”
Mets activate Nixon
Trot Nixon, acquired by the New York Mets in a trade the previous night with Arizona, arrived about 25 minutes before the scheduled first pitch and was activated for the game against the Texas Rangers that was rained out.