Let's combine the ASG/HOF

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 25, 2010 3:16 PM CDT

Why not play the All Star Game annually at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, and combine the Hall of Fame ceremony with the All Star Game itself.

First, yes I know that the field would need to be improved on and seats added, etc. So lets move past that part, and imagine the possibilities that it could bring.

The weekend line up could be somethign like this

Saturday afternoon Legends game
Saturday night All Star Game
Sunday afternoon Hall of Fame induction ceremony

This would allow for the out dated Home Run Derby to be replaced with the induction of the Hall of Fame class, and allow the members of the Hall of Fame (players, coaches, umpires and so on) to be a part of the All Star weekend. Imagine seeing (for an example) Herzog manage one more game against Sparky Anderson, seeing Tommy LaSorda coaching third base and so on. This would be a much better thing for baseball, for the fans, and I think would add to the tradition for those to be inducted, as they could throw out the opening pitches with the best current players looking on, and hopefully taking notes from the players who played before them on how to play the game right.

just a thought

Poll

Should the ASG and HOF inductions share a weekend

great idea, get it done....sadly Selig isnt smart enough to do it

31 votes

Tim we knew you were crazy, but you done lost it now

27 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Uh, what does "conbime" mean?

I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.

Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010

State high point count: 3/50

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jul 25, 2010 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

fixed

any actual thought on the topic?

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 25, 2010 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it's a good idea.

But I don’t see anything like it until Butt Selig is no longer the commissioner. Also, would the home run derby happen at all? If not, would the players still want it to be held?

I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.

Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010

State high point count: 3/50

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jul 25, 2010 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions

are you saying no HR derby = no ASG?

I (and others) feel that the HR Derby is outdated. I would like to see it done as it once was, and how I saw my first one. Pregame between a player from each team after BP and before the game. I saw Jody Davis vs some guy from Montreal by the name of Andre Dawson once before a game, and that I think would be more fun than the Derby at the ASG which is too long, many HR hitters opt out, and so on.

I also would think that current players would still want the game played, since their contracts typically have bonus clauses for making the ASG.

You co

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 25, 2010 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions

You could imagine the possabilities for the ASG with the HOF

players, coaches, umps and so on there.

and from a fans perspective, this could be a lot of fun.

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 25, 2010 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Where did I say that?

Please provide an exact quote.

I just was wondering how the players would react to there not being a home run derby, that’s all. I also think it’s outdated.

I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.

Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010

State high point count: 3/50

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jul 26, 2010 6:41 AM CDT up reply actions

i was only asking if that is what you meant when you said

~~Also, would the home run derby happen at all? If not, would the players still want it to be held?~~

since i would think that the players would be for it with or without a HR Derby

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 26, 2010 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions

quote fail

Also, would the home run derby happen at all? If not, would the players still want it to be held?

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 26, 2010 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions

i doubt owners would approve of losing out on concessions from their stadium

by jesus christos on Jul 25, 2010 3:34 PM CDT reply actions

Add to that the amount of dollars needed to build up the stadium in Cooperstown.

Why would MLB do that when they can have each team bidding and pleading for a game each year…along with the additional revenue bigger and better facilities generate. And they lose showcasing a different team each year to the nation, hopefully expanding the fan base a little. I wouldn’t mind losing the HR derby, I do agree that the current format stinks. And I also think that Selig is definitely not able to wrap his mind around doing anything that is original or could make his previous decisions look bad. He seems to want to keep all aspects of the game exactly the same until he retires, no matter how stubborn or short-sighted that is.

Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10

by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 25, 2010 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually, not a bad idea.

Won’t happen, but it’s a nice thought nonetheless.

by chilango2 on Jul 25, 2010 7:05 PM CDT reply actions

I like the concept, but there are a couple problems.

First, teams are absolutely NOT going to get behind a plan that essentially takes away a weekend homestand. Saturday and Sunday games are too important to let go… even if for only two games and even if you are missing out on a weekend every other year.

The other issue… hosting the ASG is also a boom to those host cities.

Again… like the concept, but I’m not sure this plan works in practicality.

Shut up Joe Morgan.

by fsuapollo on Jul 25, 2010 7:16 PM CDT reply actions

Doubleday Field

doesn’t seat 10,000 fans. Baseball would never leave all that money on the table that they could have by having the ASG in a ballpark that seats 42k. Additionally, teams use the ASG to increase Season Ticket sales.

You might not like the HR Derby, but it’s a sellout. Also, you’ve got the ASG Fan Fest, which is hugely popular and would be inaccessible in Cooperstown, which is in the middle of nowhere.

You’re crazy, Tim.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 25, 2010 8:32 PM CDT reply actions

i know seats need to be added and mentioned that in my OP

it was just a thought, and i was interested to see what others thought about it. i knew the odds of this ever happening are as close to zero as possible without being zero

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 25, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

So you want to build a 45k stadium

in the middle of upstate NY that’s going to sit empty 363 days a year? Who’s paying for that?

by Josh Timmers on Jul 25, 2010 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

I have to agree, but perhaps there is a compromise to be found here. I would not be averse to seeing part of the HOF festivites brought into the fold of the ASG. It could likely be done in the same format with HOF’ers being a part of of the All Star Game and related celebrations. Final ceremony could still be held at cooperstown, with the inductees being a central part of the ASG festivites.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Jul 25, 2010 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions

There are also no lights at Doubleday Field.

It’s an interesting idea, but it’s just not logistically feasible.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 26, 2010 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions

(Being Facetious) Just Play in the Dark

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jul 26, 2010 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Right

I guess what I was trying to say is include the inductees in the the activities at whichever MLB park is hosting the ASG.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Jul 26, 2010 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

It's a decent idea

but I’m afraid that the Hall of Fame probably wouldn’t like it very much. Remember, MLB doesn’t own the Hall of Fame, it’s an independent museum. I don’t think they’d like baseball stealing their thunder by having all the inductees honored a few weeks before the induction ceremonies.

The Hall is a business. A non-profit business, but one that relies on thousands of fans coming out to Cooperstown every summer to see their heroes receive baseball’s greatest honor. If they could go honor those players in a major city a few weeks earlier, they might not make the trip to upstate NY. And that’s the Hall’s biggest fear.

Now the Hall couldn’t actually do anything to stop baseball from doing such a thing, but generally the commissioner and the Hall of Fame board do everything they can to make the other one happy. I don’t think your plan would make the Hall very happy.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 26, 2010 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Good points

As usual your spot on with the business logic. I see your point, if anything the HOF would prefer to make the ceremony an even bigger deal in Cooperstown than what it already is. It seems getting rid of the HOF game would hurt alot more than help – but it must have been one of those less is more cut the fat types of things.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Jul 27, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Play day baseball just like it was Wrigley Field 30 years ago.

Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10

by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 27, 2010 1:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Pipe of Dreams

If you build it, they will come…

"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas

by RiskyBusiness on Jul 26, 2010 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

The home run derby generates a lot of revenue for the hosting ballpark

They’re not going to give that up.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 26, 2010 9:58 AM CDT reply actions

To me it sure could earn a lot more if they improved this format.

It’s overly long and uninteresting compared to how it used to be played. I don’t know that it should revert, but the current format sucks.

Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10

by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 27, 2010 1:41 AM CDT up reply actions

While the idea of combining the AS Game and the HOF inductions

sounds like a good idea initially, playing the AS game in Cooperstown, it is a fundamentally flawed idea. First, it just is not worth the price of building a stadium that would be appropriate for the game. Also, what would they do with the stadium the other 364 days of the year. Secondly, Cooperstown lacks the infrastructure to host such a major event. Finally, one of the best things about the game is how it travels around giving more people a chance to see the game. That the game rotates around the league giving the fans in each major league city a chance to come to the game and the other events is huge.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 27, 2010 8:14 AM CDT reply actions