INDUCTION WEEKEND
July 26-28, 2013
Induction Ceremony - Sunday, July 28, 2013 1:30 PM
Is There Something Going On This Weekend?
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| Induction Weekend is a festive, energized extravaganza. You can
feel the electricity in the air as passionate baseball fans, and innumerable baseball
fan-atics bustle about our streets. Autograph sessions, Hall of Famer
sightings, and memorabilia vendors abound. For some visitors, there can be no
better time to visit Cooperstown; but for other visitors, this may be a weekend to avoid.
Weve had as many as 70,000 people descend upon our village of 2,200.
Dont be caught in the crowds unless you want to be. First and foremost, if you
are coming to Cooperstown find out when Induction weekend is being held. It can
change from year to year so if you just show up without knowing, it may take you by
surprise. In 2003, the Hall of Fame split Induction Weekend from the Hall of Fame
Game. We are hoping that this will mean the Induction will fall on the same weekend
every year--making it much easier for everyone to plan ahead. It is a good idea to
contact the Hall of Fame as early as you can to confirm the dates. (607) 547-7200.
Website: www.BaseballHallofFame.org |
| Make accommodations reservations early.
Reservation policies vary. Some take reservations several years in advance, others
dont start taking reservations until the April prior. Be sure to find out the
facilitys refund policy and its bump policy. Not to cause a
panic, but I have known of people who have paid for their rooms a year in advance only to
receive a refund check and a cancellation notice in the mail less than a month before the
weekend. If you can't find anything in Cooperstown, try looking for lodging in the
Herkimer and Cobleskill areas. Oneonta hosts baseball tournaments throughout the
summer and rooms are pretty hard to come by. Herkimer and Cobleskill are about a 45
min drive.
Beaver Valley always has overflow camping! It's close and it's cheap! |
| Parking is always an issue in the village. The trolleys will be
running as usual. Although we lose parking spaces because the Doubleday Field
parking lot is closed to vehicles, many village families offer parking on their lawns from
$10 to $30 per day. There are yellow school buses that can transport you at no
charge from outlying parking areas to the Clark Sports Center and from the Clark Sports
Center to Doubleday Field. One parking area is on River Road just south of the village. To
get to River Road avoiding the downtown traffic, you can follow Route 166 East from State
Route 28 in Milford (south of Cooperstown) and then turn left onto River Road. Do your
best to avoid driving through Main St. as the crowds spill from the sidewalks and into the
street. Also, pay attention to temporary traffic signs as some streets may be designated
one way. Surprisingly, the traffic clears out rapidly very soon after the ceremonies
have ended. |
| It is approximately a one mile walk to the Clark Sports Center from the
parking area and then another mile form the Sports Center to the village, so walking is a
possibility. Young entrepreneurs set up lemonade stands along the way so be sure to bring
a thirst and ample pocket change! If you bike, be particularly wary of the
automobile traffic on the roads coming into the village. I would not advise biking in with
children on this weekend; extreme caution should be used on State Route 28. There
are no bike racks on Main St. It may be easier to lock your bike at the High School
bike rack and then walk into town. |
| While you are at the Ceremony, the Baseball Game, or milling around
Doubleday Field Parking Lot, be sure to purchase refreshments. The Cooperstown High
School takes advantage of the weekend as a fund-raiser and they are the sole vendor.
The students wear t-shirts with Concession Staff printed on the
back. If you are eyeing these shirts as a souvenir, please note that the kids will
sell them to you but they are not allowed to do so until after the ceremonies! |
| When attending the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the Clark Sports
Center, be aware that there really is no shade. Even if the day is somewhat
overcast, you can bake out in the open. Bring water to drink so you dont dehydrate
and wear sunblock. Arrive as early in the morning as possible and stake out your
claim on the lawn. Bring a blanket or chairs as none are provided.
Animals are not allowed on the grounds. You may also want to bring something to
read and some materials to keep the kids happy while you wait for the program to begin.
Whatever you bring, though, you will be lugging with you onto those yellow buses. |
| The Inductees stay at the Otesaga Resort under tight security. Many
golf at the Leatherstocking Golf Course which abuts the resort. Saturday night at 9
PM the Hall of Famers arrive at the Hall of Fame and can be seen entering. |
| Souvenirs are plentiful and can range in price from a couple of dollars
to several hundreds. More affordable though still valuable souvenirs include:
Hall of Fame Induction Day cancellations at the Cooperstown Post Office,
commemorative pins, ticket stubs from the Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame Game tickets,
Concession Staff t-shirts. |
Non-Baseball Special Events
Check Otsego County Tourism calendar
of events and Sweet Home Productions
calendar which is more comprehensive.
If you're staying with us and you don't want to attend the ceremony, you can always
hang out by the pool or spend the day fishing. |
| Plan on lines, wall-to-wall people and more lines. If everyone
brings a sense of humor, an ample supply of patience, courtesy and a smile, well all
have a glorious weekend. |