The Cooperstown Trip

12 Responses to “The Cooperstown Trip”

1. Raf on September 12th, 2005 1:03 pm

   Awesome (:

   As many times as I’ve been there, I never get tired of it.

2. Cliff on September 12th, 2005 2:02 pm

   Steve, you know it’s okay to smile for the camera.
   Good stuff. I was last there during the 2001 World Series (we supposedly stayed in Bobby Murcer’s favorite room in the bed and breakfast we chose). That late in the year, the place is a ghost town, which is kind of appropriate considering the baseball ghosts that lurk there.

   That said, this reminds me of a news report I saw recently about how the townsfolk of Cooperstown are getting frustrated with everything being about baseball. I guess a lot of those memorabilia shops were regular type stores until recently and now the townsfolk are having trouble finding a local place to buy basic items for everyday life.

3. Raf on September 12th, 2005 2:40 pm

   That’s odd, because there’s a general store and a CVS right there on the main drag…

   I suppose if the townsfolk supported those “regular type” stores, there wouldn’t be as many memorabilia shops?

   Steve, what were the rates at the hotel/B&B where you & your family stayed?

   Oh yeah, a big hand to your wife for supporting you in your endeavors and baseball related travels. Many women I’ve dated weren’t really into the game, and couldn’t understand why I’d take off to Philly @ a moment’s notice to see RJ pitch (hey he was with the Stros; wasn’t going to see that ever again), or why I’d drive 6 hours to Detroit, watch a game, and drive right back (hey, it was the last series @ ever Tiger Stadium. I had to work the following morning; THAT’S why I drove back)…

4. Steve Lombardi on September 12th, 2005 2:43 pm

   LOL! I thought I was smiling!
   Seriously, holding the kids sometimes is like rasslin’ gators. I’m just trying to keep a straight face most of the times in pictures!

   Funny about the news report. This visit, all I could think of was “Man, if I could open a McDonald’s here, it would be gold.” But, I bet the commerce folks there want nothing to take away from the old, small, town charm.

5. Steve Lombardi on September 12th, 2005 2:50 pm

   //Steve, what were the rates at the hotel/B&B where you & your family stayed?

   Oh yeah, a big hand to your wife for supporting you in your endeavors and baseball related travels. Many women I’ve dated weren’t really into the game, and couldn’t understand why I’d take off to Philly @ a moment’s notice to see RJ pitch (hey he was with the Stros; wasn’t going to see that ever again), or why I’d drive 6 hours to Detroit, watch a game, and drive right back (hey, it was the last series @ ever Tiger Stadium. I had to work the following morning; THAT’S why I drove back)…//

   IIRC, I think the room was something like $240 a night - but, again, I needed two connected rooms, and a bed and a crib in the 2nd room. So, you could probably do better there without the 2nd room, etc.

   The Mrs. knew what she was getting into when she married me. On the flipside, I don’t drink, gamble, smoke, do drugs, chase skirts, etc. And, I don’t follow the NHL or NBA. And, I pretty much limit my NFL to the Super Bowl these days. So, baseball is my only vice.

   I like to think there are worse “catches” out there!

6. hopbitters on September 12th, 2005 2:58 pm

   I believe Cooperstown is named after James Fenimore - it’s right smack in the middle of where the Leatherstocking Tales are set (”Lake Glimmerglass” = Otsego, etc.), so your daughter was also probably right about “going to a Cooper’s town”.

7. Steve Lombardi on September 12th, 2005 3:12 pm

   She is a very smart 3-year-old!

8. Paul in Boston on September 12th, 2005 6:03 pm

   By coincidence, I went to Cooperstown this year for the first time since I was 12. My wife and kids came along, mostly to humor me since I’m the only one who really follows the game. I enjoyed it enormously, and must say that the physical beauty of the place surprised me — somehow I’d expected the town to be “ruined” by honky-tonk by now, when in fact it feels surprisingly real.

   FYI, Steve, by the way you and I are around the same age, and I also don’t follow any other sport except (maniacally) baseball.

9. Steve Lombardi on September 12th, 2005 10:28 pm

   Good to know that I’m not a rogue there Paul!
   Too late to get the kids hooked? More company is always good.

10. Paul in Boston on September 12th, 2005 11:17 pm

    Yep, too late, I’m afraid. My 12 year old son doesn’t really like sports, and my 9 year old daughter vastly prefers soccer. That’s ok, I’ve learned to live with it.

11. Steve Lombardi on September 13th, 2005 9:40 am

    It’s sad that baseball is losing the kids. My 20-year-old nephew was/is the same way - never had an interest. I blame the video/PC games.

    It’s something that Bud and the boys should think about - and hard - because someday we’ll all be too old and then the parks will be empty again.

12. Raf on September 13th, 2005 12:18 pm

    It’s sad that baseball is losing the kids. My 20-year-old nephew was/is the same way - never had an interest. I blame the video/PC games.
    ============================================

    I don’t think baseball’s losing the kids; the local little leagues aren’t hurting for players.

    Trying to get a park permit is dang near impossible in NYC. Guys my age (30) are still playing. Have a game this weekend, as a matter of fact. Kids who are around salvage our busted equipment (I play in a wood bat league)

    There are still fathers & sons playing catch, fathers & daughters playing catch.

    Don’t worry, the game will be ok (:

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