Doubleday Field 100 years (Sept 6, 1920 - Sept. 6, 2020)

The iconic Doubleday Field, known as the “birthplace of baseball” is part of the National Register of Historic Places. Its where many baseball immortals, MLB hall of famers and legends have played for 100 years. And where they still play today in the annual Hall of Fame Classic game. The field is also host to the annual Hall of Fame Awards Presentation. Located just a few blocks from the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum the fabled, nearly 10,000-seat ball field with its deep, rich history is currently owned and operated by the village of Cooperstown. In 1908, the Mills Commission determined that Abner Doubleday originated the game of baseball. In its final report, the commission stated that “the first scheme for playing baseball, according to the best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, NY, in 1839” on Elihu Phinney's farm where Doubleday field stands today. In 1916, National League President John Tener visited Cooperstown to see the pasture in which baseball was said to have been founded. During that visit, Tener said the field ought to be preserved as a memorial to Doubleday. So construction of the stadium started in 1919. On this day, September 6, 2020, exactly 100 years ago, the famed, world renowned, hallowed grounds of Doubleday field officially opened for the very first time. 

Over the century of the stadium’s existence, this day could very well rank among one of the most meaningful. The quaint town was reeling from the unprecedented Covid-19 virus that resulted in the cancellations of the annual Hall of Fame Classic game, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the Dream Park youth tournament and the closure of the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum. All four attractions normally draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to the small town. This year’s induction ceremony that included Derek Jeter was predicted to bring the largest crowd ever. It was a huge blow to the village, its businesses and its people. In fact the baseball world as a whole took a big hit this year. The Little League World Series was cancelled for the first time in 73 years and so was the much anticipated Field Of Dreams MLB game in Iowa. The MLB season was also cut in half.