Hall of Fame Game History
In 1939, as part of the celebration and dedication of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, current and former major league players representing the 16 clubs played a ballgame at Doubleday Field, captained by Honus Wagner and Eddie Collins.
The next year, major league team owners agreed to send two teams each summer to Cooperstown to play a benefit game. It was the beginning of an annual tradition that stretched out through the decades. Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and many other greats came to Cooperstown to play in the game and honor those being inducted into the Hall.
In 2003, the Game was moved to an earlier date on the calendar. Unlike its predecessors, the Game was henceforth played on a weekend unrelated to the induction ceremony.
In 2009, the Game was replaced with the Hall of Fame Classic, featuring former major league players.
Doubleday Field, in the center of Cooperstown and owned by the village, has always hosted the game.
