Camp Lowry:That's How We Roll: A visit to Cooperstown NY and the Baseball Hall of Fame...Holy Cow

Our last outing with our friends Steve and Debbie from Down the Road was to Cooperstown in NY. Steve had been to the Baseball Hall of Fame there several years ago and wanted to share the experience to going again with me. Of course, I was all for that as a Cubs fan for years and them finally winning the World Series after 108 years. I'm not a huge fan of baseball in that I don't follow all the players and know all their stats however I do enjoy watching and can appreciate the talent.

In addition we stayed at a State Park called Glimmerglass about 15 miles away. This park is electric only so we had to fill our water tanks and use the dump station for the black tank on the way out. This was a first for us after 3 years of full time RV'ing. We usually have sites with both electric and water.

This also means we used out water pump to get the water out of the onboard tank. When only using the water in your tank you have to be a little more conserving with a limited amount of water. Good experience for us and would definitely do it again if need be.

While at the park we did some geocaching and getting our steps in each day. Our site was shaded and not too far from Steve and Debbie. Good choice for our visit to the Baseball HOF.

We all piled into our truck and drove into town and found a nice parking space for our huge truck. With our size parking can be an issue. We saw a parking lot not too far from the HOF and right next to Doubleday Field. Click on the link to learn more.

Abner Doubleday is known as the founder of baseball. therefore a field named after him. Cooperstown is known as the birthplace of baseball.

We got our tickets and I asked for the Senior discount. Well the young lady at the booth flattered me by asking me to show my ID. I wanted to kiss her. Once I proved my OLD age we headed to the second floor and started our exploration. So many displays and stats from players dating back to the beginning of baseball. Players I knew as I grew up...kid, teenager and adult. Wonderful displays of individual players we all know like Babe Ruth, Jose Canseco, Pete Rose, Jackie Robinson, Ozzie Smith, Mark McGuire, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and on and on.

These are some of the photos I took of the many displays. I hope it brings back some memories for you as it did for me. Click on the photos to enlarge for better viewing.

Evolution of baseball mitts

The Chicken

Negro League

Evolution of Bats

Of course the HOF would not be complete without a display and acknowledgement of the women's league that came into being. The AAGPBL, which began play in 1943 and lasted a dozen years and gave more than 500 women an opportunity that had never existed before. Popularized by the 1992 feature film A League of Their Own (“There’s no crying in baseball!”), the so-called “lipstick league” was the brainchild of Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley as a way to keep the ballparks busy during World War II if manpower shortages threatened big league baseball.

So much history and so much to take in as we made out way through the displays. Room by room we saw more and more until we came to the World Series Room and the display for the current World Series Champions. THE CHICAGO CUBS. Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go...Hey Chicago what do you say, the Cubs are going to WIN TODAY. And that they did after a 108 year drought.

As far back as I can remember my Mom was a Cubs fan...therefore my brother and I became Cubs fans. Walking into the room with the World Series display put a HUGE smile on my face.

In addition to the display there was a video playing with excerpts from the World Series games where the Cubs were down 3 games to 1 against the Cleveland Indians. They excepts continued the comeback game by game. 3 games to 2 then 3 games to 3 until the final deciding 7th game. In the 7th game the Cubs came out to a 6-3 lead only to see the game tied up in the 8th inning 6-6. As the 9th inning started it began to rain...enough to stop the game for about 15 minutes or so. Story has it that the veteran players on the teams called all the younger players together in the locker room and told them this is our time and our destiny. The Cubs came out in the top of the 9th inning and scored 2 runs and stopped the Indians in the bottom of the 9th to win the game and the World Series. As that video played that part where the last out took place a chill went over my body and I knew my mom who passed in 2009 was smiling in heaven. I think I watched that video several times before moving on.

I still get goosebumps as I sit here and type this post.

We continued on into the HOF area commemorating the induction of players into the HOF.

The plaques

In addition to displays for the players they even had some statutes for fans that showed extraordinary fortitude in following teams and players.

I'm glad that Steve suggested making a trip to the HOF and adding an extra special experience to our travels together.

We found a place to have lunch and headed back to the campground for our final night and a campfire. Memories and experiences...that's what our lives are about. We're making memories.