This past weekend, Rachel Mech of Proventures traveled to Cooperstown, New York to see the Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies. Andre “The Hawk” Dawson, umpire Doug Harvey, and manager Whitey Herzog were welcomed into the renowned fraternity of baseball greats.
Last Friday, Darren Rovell made an interesting blog post on CNBC’s Sports Biz website. In his entry titled, “RIP Cooperstown,” he talked about how this year’s class has triggered concern about the popularity and relevancy of the Hall, especially because several star players who were caught using PEDs are not being inducted.
I have had the opportunity to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and it was quite an experience. Walking past the plaques of baseball greats such as Babe Ruth and Willie Mays create an atmosphere of respect and reverence. While I must admit Rovell brings an interesting point to the forefront, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee is correct in not allowing those who have cheated America’s pastime into Cooperstown.
There’s something to be said about playing the game the right way and performing at the highest level. If Cooperstown begins to let in the Pete Roses and the Mark McGwires, then it undermines the veneration that the Hall has established and continues to demand. Even though attendance figures may be struggling, baseball fans will lose respect for the game’s ultimate honor if Cooperstown decides that attendance is more valuable than reverence.
- Chris Cohen, Intern
