By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
Major League baseball commissioner
Bud Selig has responded to
lawmakers who support recent efforts
to save the Hall of Fame
Game, which will be played for the
final time in June.
Major League Baseball announced
in January that scheduling
the Game, which has been a
nearly 70-year tradition in Cooperstown,
had become too difficult
and would be discontinued after
this year.
In response, Cooperstown native
Kristian Connolly started the
website savethefamegame.com,
encouraging baseball fans to send
e-mails to Selig, the Hall of Fame
and other baseball officials to voice
their displeasure with the decision.
Among those who supported
Connolly’s mission were Representatives
Michael Arcuri, Maurice
Hinchey and Senator Hillary Clinton.
Major League Baseball commissioner
Bud Selig recently responded
to requests made by those and
other politicians to reverse the decision
to end the annual Hall of
Fame Game in Cooperstown after
2008.
Selig sent a form letter of response
to those politicians, explaining
the reasons behind the
decision.
``While I appreciate the sentiments
expressed in your letter, allow
me to elaborate on some of the
reasons that went into the decision
to eliminate the annual Hall
of Fame Game in its current format
after this year,’’ Selif wrote.
``As you know, our teams play 162
games in 180 days. With interleague
play and interdivision
matchups, finding two teams that
could be scheduled into Cooperstown
during an off-day has become
exceedingly difficult. As you
know, for several years the game
has not been played in conjunction
with the Hall of Fame Induction
ceremony, making the logistics of
presenting the game that much
more complicated.’’
But Connolly said Selig’s, and
baseball’s, reasoning, is flawed.
“To say that the Hall of Fame
Game creates a scheduling problem
is completely ludicrous,’’ Connolly
wrote in an e-mail to the
Town Crier.
He continued: ``The CBA specifically
allows for the Hall of
Fame Game, and even allows for it
to be factored into consecutivedays-
played and off-day provisions,
so saying that the game
takes place on an off-day is disingenuous,
at best. If the commissioner
was so concerned about giving
players days off in lieu of
maximizing profits during a 162-
game, six-month season, then perhaps
his office could craft a schedule
which contained a few
doubleheaders mixed in, to create
further opportunities on the calendar
for players to get some rest.
But simply throwing in the towel
on a nearly 70-year-old tradition
rather than making it work -- in
the interest of what is best for the
sport -- should be embarrassing
for those making that decision.’’
Selig went on to write that MLB
is supporting the Hall of Fame in
other ways, including committing
$8 million dollars over a threeyear
period to assist the Hall in its
funding requirements, and ``embarking
on a program to make our
fans more aware of the Hall of
Fame and its importance.’’
Beginning this year, Selig
wrote, MLB will use the Hall of
Fame’s Induction Ceremony as a
special event in all major league
parks where games are played
that day, complete with video and
on-field tributes and recognition of
what is going on in Cooperstown
that day.
``Frankly, we think this is a
much better deployment of our resources
in terms of ensuring the
Hall of Fame’s long-term success,
and will attract far more visitors
to the area than a single game,
played on a variable date each
year, with the Major League players
participating for a only a few
innings,’’ Selig continued.
Again, Connolly disagreed with
Selig’s reasoning.
``I am in complete and utter disbelief
that the commissioner of
baseball believes that people need
to be made ‘more aware of the Hall
of Fame and its importance,’ Connolly
wrote. ``As someone who grew
up in Cooperstown and has traveled
all over the country and met
many different people -- baseball
fans and otherwise -- I feel confident
that there is not a single village
in America that is more well
known than Cooperstown, and
baseball and the Hall of Fame are
the main reasons why.’’
Selig concluded his letter by
stating that he knows Cooperstown
residents are disappointed
in the decision, but they should remember
that minor league baseball
can be found in nearby locations
like Oneonta, Binghamton,
Troy and Syracuse.
Connolly said Selig’s lack of
caring for about fans is ``appalling.’’
“Commissioner Selig’s identical,
form-letter response to members
of Congress is stunning in its
refusal to directly address the lawmakers’
concerns, and in the way
it sweeps the central issue (money)
under the rug in favor of self-congratulating
or hollow statements,’’
Connolly wrote. ``It’s insulting to
the senators and representatives
that have expressed their desire to
see the tradition continue, and insulting
to baseball fans across the
Local Sports
Related Photos
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Kristian Connolly
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Selig responds to lawmakers about Game
- Local Sports
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CCS swimmer finds diving challenging
COOPERSTOWN’S AARON IDELSON FINISHED eighth Saturday in the Frontier League Diving Championships at Carthage. Idelson, who already has qualified for sectionals in diving, amassed 285.15 points over 11 dives. The remainder of the meet will be completed this Saturday at Watertown.
After a day of highs and lows, Cooperstown’s Aaron Idelson finished in the middle.
Continued ...
The sophomore diver scored a 285.15 and finished eighth out of 16 divers at the Frontier League Diving Championships in Carthage on Saturday. -
Brothers compete in the pool
Sometimes things are not always as they seem. Just look at Cooperstown’s varsity swimming brothers Sean and Erik Mebust.
Continued ... -
Volleyball team wins tournament at home
The host Cooperstown volleyball team won a six-team round robin tournament last Saturday. The Redskins tied Stockbridge with identical 7-3 records, but owned the tiebreaker by a single point in head-to-head match-ups, winning 25-22 and losing 23-25.
Continued ... -
Lady Redskins come out strong in second half
Nicole Cring’s double, double helped Cooperstown make a decisive second-half run and beat visiting Mohawk 45-28 in a Center State Conference game on Monday. Cring had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots as the
Continued ...
Redskins scored the first seven points of the second half, stretching a 17-14 lead to 24-14. “There wasn’t much to say.” -
CCS wrestling team competes in championships
Cooperstown teammates Michael Boyle and Jacob Miller had runner-up finishes in the Center State Conference Championships on Saturday at Adirondack.
Continued ... -
Niekro, Ozzie to return for Hall of Fame Classic
The Knucksies and Wizards will go at it again this June in Cooperstown. The Baseball Hall of Fame announced Monday that Hall of Famers Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith will return as team captains for the fourth annual Hall of Fame Classic at Doubleday Field.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Redskins hit century mark
If at first you do succeed, try to do even better next time. Dave Bertram led the Cooperstown boys basketball team to its highest points total in his 10 years as head coach Tuesday, when the Redskins thumped visiting Morrisville- Eaton, 106-51, in a Center State Conference Division III game.
Continued ... -
Davine, king of Cooperstown assists
If you need help, try calling Jay Davine. Senior point guard Davine broke Cooperstown’s all-time assists record last Thursday and scored 13 points to lead the Redskins to a 71-43 boys basketball thumping of visiting Westmoreland in a Center State Conference Division III game.
Continued ... -
Fox has big night for Hartwick women
Cooperstown graduate Samantha Fox scored a varsity-high 14 points Friday to lead the Hartwick College women’s basketball team to a 59-49 victory over visiting St. John Fisher in the Empire 8 Conference.
Continued ... -
Patriots hold off Gilbertsville-Mount Upton with score of 59-53
A varsity-high 27 points from Kyle Jaquay led host Cherry Valley- Springfield to a 59-53 Tri-Valley League boys basketball victory Monday over Gilbertsville-Mount Upton.
Continued ... -
CCS wrestles with the ‘Big Dogs’
Cooperstown’s wrestling revival got a reality check on Saturday in the form of visiting Dolgeville. Both teams came in undefeated in the Center State Conference, but only the Blue Devils left that way after a 64-10 win over the Redskins. “Dolgeville is definitely a tough team. Top to bottom, they really don’t have any weak spots on their roster,” Cooperstown coach Micaiah Abts said.
Continued ... -
Coach says he thinks his girls will return to top of their class
Close, but not there yet. That’s the story of Cooperstown’s volleyball team this season, and it played out again on Monday in a 3-1 loss to visiting Waterville in a Center State Conference match.
Continued ... -
Clark Sports Center hosts tournament
The Clark Sports Center recently held its eighth annual Pat Fetterman Memorial Tournament. There were six girls’ teams and six boys’ teams from as far away as West Philadelphia, according to a media release from the sports center.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 19, 2012
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Boy one step closer to seeing football dreams come true
Since Cowboy Stadium in Dallas opened in 2010, football fans have marveled at the massive, modernstadium. Over the holidays, Cooperstown Central School freshman Michael Perrino got to play two games in it himself.
Continued ... -
CCS coach and player earn recognition
Cooperstown’s soccer season has been over for a couple of months now, but the awards haven’t ended. Redskins’ coach Frank Miosek has been named Center State Conference coach of the year, while junior mid-fielder Michael Rowley won co-player of the year.
Continued ... -
Milford girls thump G-MU
Avalon Ward scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Milford topped visiting Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, 44-30, in a Tri-Valley League girls basketball game Tuesday. Milford held a 38-14 lead after three quarters before being outscored, 16-6, in the final period.
Continued ... -
Wrestling team focused on improving as end of season nears
Three Cooperstown wrestlers placed at the Central New York WrestlingTournament on Saturday at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school, giving the Redskins confidence going into their final matches and the end of the season tournaments. Mikey Boyle (113) and Jacob Miller (138) each placed fourth, and Kevin Segit (195) placed sixth in the tournament. Cooperstown finished 14th overall.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 12, 2012
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Redskin ladies are red hot: CCS remains undefeated
Holli Erkson scored a game-high 13 points and Nicole Cring had eight blocks and 12 rebounds as Cooperstown stayed undefeated in the Center State Conference with a 44-29 victory over visiting Sauquoit Valley at Bursey Gymnasium on Tuesday. The Redskins (9-1, 5-0) had early foul trouble and problems on offense in the game. Fortunately for them, they had no problems on defense.
Continued ... -
Free throw caps 46-45 victory over Hamilton
Nicole Cring had a double-double and Holli Erkson hit a walkoff foul shot as host Cooperstown edged Hamilton, 46-45, in a Center State Conference Division III girls basketball game last Thursday. Alexis Bloomfield went 1-for-2 from the foul line with 30.2 seconds left to tie the score at 45 for the Redskins (8-1, 4-0), who stole Hamilton’s last possession with 7.5 seconds to go.
Continued ... -
Hall welcomes Cincinnati kid in third year of eligibility
Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was the lone selection by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. And Larkin’s admission into the National Baseball Hall of Fame came in a landslide. The Cincinnati native who grew up cheering for the man he’d replace at shortstop Dave Concepcion garnered 86 percent of the vote. Seventyfive percent is needed for election.
Continued ...
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