Last Of The Ninth For Baseball's Hall Of Fame Game

Citing complexity of schedules, MLB has decided that after this season, and 60 years of playing it, the Baseball Hall of Fame Game will be nothing more than a memory.

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Just move a regular-season game there. They play regular-season games in Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico, why not one in Cooperstown?

 

Makes no sense to play a game there. Travel is ridiculous. Players generally hate going there for the annual game. It's a pain in the neck to travel to China or Japan, too, but at least there's a good reason to play games in those countries.

 

Have recently retired stars play an exhibition and call it the Hall of Fame Game.

Problem solved.

 

that and the Little League dimensions would wreck havoc on a "real" game.

On one hand, this is too bad. I always got a kick out of the HOF game. On the other, the HOF really set itself up for this by moving the game away from HOF weekend. Sure, it sells out, but no one cares. OK, no one cared anyway, but at least when it took place on HOF weekend it provided a nice bookend to the festivities. Now it's just kind of out in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason.

 

That is a really good idea.

 

60 years, and only NOW the schedule is too complex? Just (gasp) have the two teams play a doubleheader one day and they will then have the extra day for the HOF game. But I'm sure the owners wouldn't want to give up a little extra money for a scheduled doubleheader.

It's sad, especially when they moved the game away from HOF Weekend. I attended the game one year and must say, even though I didn't have a rooting interest in the two teams, had an enjoyable time. Even with the stars only playing a few innings, it was a fun game to watch. Even the players were enjoying themselves, playing to the crowd and such.

 

Real reason for ending it -- no one watches, no one cares, no one makes any money off it.

 

Hall of Fame Game history ...

2007: Brian Bock
2006: Rained out in the third inning
2005: Derek Nicholson walk-off HR wins it
2004: Jonathan Schuerholz's son keys ninth-inning rally
2003: Winning pitcher = Frank Brooks
2002: Mark Little becomes first player to get five hits in HOF Game
2001: Everett Stull, winning pitcher and MVP
2000: MVP Luis Terrero saves game with great defensive plays

 

Jesus what is wrong with you? How'd you find that crap out? I went to a couple of those games and couldn't tell you one thing about 'em.

 

Hard to argue with that.