What is the history of the Hall of Fame Game?
The tradition of the Hall of Fame Game dates back to 1940, when the first game — featuring the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox — was held. During the summer-long celebration of baseballs centennial in 1939, an all-star game was played on June 12, the date of the Museums grand opening and first Induction, as the 16 Major League teams took an off-day and two members from each club traveled to play in Cooperstown. Two additional games — exhibition contests featuring the New York Yankees vs. the Newark Bears and the Philadelphia Athletics against the Penn Athletic Club — were also held that summer, prompting discussions of future tilts that would bring crowds back to Cooperstown for subsequent summers.
