Saturday, July 2, 1988
Up at 7:00 to do a load of laundry, which allowed Kyle and
Erich to watch Saturday morning cartoons. When the laundry was done and Kent
had made sandwiches, we left about 10:30 to head across New York State. We
followed Main Street to Clarence and hoped to do some antique shopping, but
places were closed, moved, or sold reproductions. At Pembroke we got gas and
got on the NY Thruway. Had a picnic lunch at the Clifton Springs rest area.
I took over driving and we exited at Exit 31 for Utica, paying
a $1.60 toll. Nearby we found the Best Western Gateway Motel and checked in. It
was cloudy and cool, but Kyle and Erich spent some time in the pool.
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| Erich and Kyle at the Best Western Motel pool |
They
played video games while Kent showered. In the car, we drove along Genesee
Street through the city of Utica, population nearly 73,000. Small downtown,
then big houses along the main street. Once we reached New Hartford, we turned
around and wandered through some back streets.
We returned to the main drag to eat at Johnny Appleseed’s
Tavern, a family restaurant with a bar, and backgammon game lined up for those
who were waiting for tables. There was no waiting today. Kyle opted for the
kids’ menu chicken fingers with barbecue sauce and waffle fries, and milk. The
rest of us had chicken parmigiana, with two pieces of thick chicken, and pasta
with sauce. And we had salads, too! Stuffed ourselves, and left $45. As we
left, the kids got free candied apples. Kent drove as the rest of us walked
back to the motel. Played some catch with the baseball, before showering and
heading to bed.
Sunday, July 3, 1988
We checked out of the Best Western for $62 and went up the
street to the Village Pancake House for breakfast. Had a bit of a wait because
only one cook was on duty, and he was making giant pancakes. Kyle and Erich had
three pigs in giant blankets on top of a fourth pancake. Kent had two eggs over
easy, with two sausages, home fries, and a biscuit. I had the same, except
instead of sausage I had four pieces of bacon I shared with the boys. Left
about $25.
By 8:00 we were on our way on NY-5S East, with hardly any
cars on the road. Saw a red fox limping across the road. A pick-up truck going
the other direction stopped. Kent thought it might be the police or a ranger.
Drove through some small towns with fine Victorian houses. Turned south on
NY-28 into Cooperstown where cars were lined up for an antique show. We
continued down Main Street with its diagonal parking and found a parking spot a
building away from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which had just opened
at 9:00.
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| National Hall of Fame and Museum |
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| National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum guide |
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| Hall of Fame and Museum adult tickets |
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| Hall of Fame and Museum child tickets |
Paid the entrance fee of $5/adult and $2/child. Went right up to the
second floor with a chronological history of baseball, from prehistoric stick
and ball games to the present. Saw uniforms, gloves, ball from historic
moments, and photos of players. Saw how the game evolved, and that the tricks
of yesteryear are illegal today (spit balls, dropping infield flies, etc.) The
history included the early black or Negro leagues, and the contribution of
early black players. There were displays on the evolution of the bat, the ball,
and catcher’s equipment. World tours, including to Japan, were shown, and Casey
Stengel (inducted in 1966) and Hank Aaron (inducted in 1982) were featured. One
room showcased All-Star games. We went upstairs to see a pretty complete
exhibit of baseball cards and stamps. A Babe Ruth Memorial contained his
locker. A wall display on the minor leagues and youth leagues. More on the
evolution of the uniform, including experimental ones. Models of ball parks,
and memorabilia from World Series games. Interesting was a display showing Ted
Williams strike zone with balls showing his batting averages, all above .200 it
seemed for balls thrown in that part of the zone. We headed down to the first
floor to see the art gallery and Great Moments. The Cooperstown Room explains
why Abner Doubleday, a military hero, was called the Father of Baseball, mostly
because a baseball was found in his effects. Thus Cooperstown was adopted as
the home of baseball.
Cooperstown was founded in 1786 by Judge William Cooper. He
was the father of James Fenimore Cooper, author of “The Last of the Mohicans.”
Otsego Lake was called Glimmerglass in his stories. The National Baseball
Commission made an official decree in 1908 that Doubleday founded baseball in
1839 in a cow pasture in Cooperstown, while a student at West Point. Now equal
credit is given to New York City resident Alexander Joy Cartwright who devised
the playing field and rules. We continued down to the basement to see the
manufacture of baseball equipment, the displays on the present teams, and the
records room, updated every Monday. The highlight film of the hour was the 1986
World Series, lost by the Red Sox. We skipped it and went to the gift shop,
where Kyle and Erich bought souvenir batting helmets. There was now a long line waiting to enter the actual Hall of Fame, which of
course, we perused to see the plaques of all the members.
We drove down NY-28 to Oneonta, the home of the Soccer Hall
of Fame! But we went on to find I-88, which we took to Cobleskill where we
stopped to have lunch at a Burger King. On our way back to I-88, we saw a sign
for Howe Caverns, but thought we needed to get Kyle and Erich home to their
mother. Got on I-90/NY Thruway after getting gas, continued on the Mass
Turnpike, turned down MA/RI-146 and arrived home at 17:00. We called Mary Jane
several times, but no answer. Finally at 19:00, we decided to have dinner at
the Peking Restaurant. Kyle and Erich started with egg roll, and Erich had
wonton soup. Kent and I had hot and sour soup. The boys had chicken lo mein,
and Kent and I had the Mysterious Taste chicken, related to Little Chopsticks
Strange Flavor chicken? Left about $25. Kyle and Erich ended up staying the
night.
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