"Given the complexities of the major league schedule and all its inherent challenges, it has become increasingly difficult in recent years to find a suitable date and make the proper arrangements for two clubs to participate in the Hall of Fame Game during the regular season." "Nobody wants to do it any more."

That sucks. I got my only foul ball at the 1982 HOF game (Mets-White Sox, off the bat of Mike Jorgensen). I also caught the previous year's thriller between the Oneonta Yankees and the Elmira Pioneer Red Sox.

Do teams still play their top affiliates?

Now that the ball field is open, maybe Pete Rose can host the "not in the hall of fame" celebrity classic? In 5 years the roster of players will rival just about any collection of talent.

Just saying...

Do teams still play their top affiliates?

Not during the season any more - there was a lot of flack one year from the players when the Mariners did it. On occasion, when an affliate opens a new ballpark (which happened in Greensboro two years ago), or when a new affiliate joins an organization (which happened when the Mudcats became a Florida affiliate), the parent club will play an exhibition there before the season starts as a "welcoming" present.

-- MWE

Why don't they replace it with an Old-Timer's Game? Bring in some Hall of Famers- it would potentially be a huge draw...

Do teams still play their top affiliates?

Starting no later than the 2002 CBA, there was a clause banning all in-season exhibition games except for the Hall of Fame Game. The current CBA has the same clause in Artice V, Section C, clause 3.

Cool factoid: The same section (clause 1(b)) gives the Cubs and Red Sox special privledges regarding the scheduling of split doubleheaders.

Perhaps as a substitute, a nearby minor league game (Oneonta? Syracuse?) could be moved to Doubleday Field the weekend of the HoF ceremonies.

Starting no later than the 2002 CBA, there was a clause banning all in-season exhibition games except for the Hall of Fame Game. The current CBA has the same clause in Artice V, Section C, clause 3.

Cool factoid: The same section (clause 1(b)) gives the Cubs and Red Sox special privledges regarding the scheduling of split doubleheaders.

The Red Sox will begin their regular season in Japan, return to the west coast and play 3 exhibition games vs the Dodgers, then resume regular season games at Oakland. So I guess there was a special waiver of some sort to allow this?

I see that Petroskey is still on his quest to destroy all that's good and decent in the world.

The HOF game was moribund anyway, but interleague play really killed it dead. It used to be (very slightly) kewl to look at the schedule and see that Cleveland was playing St. Louis, something that would never happen in the regular season (and never has yet in the World Series). But once Cleveland did start playing St. Louis, there was no point to an interleague exhibition. And when the HOF games featured intraleague play, there got to be even less point.

But, but the tradition! Baseball is going to come to an end if you change Cooperstown tradition.

As someone born in 1982, I have to say that I have never heard anyone mention the Hall of Fame game in conversation, I've never seen anything about it in the media that made it sound like anyone cared about it, I've never gotten any sense that any of the players involved want to participate in it, and I've never seen any explanation of why it happens, so this seems like the right decision to me.

This BLOWS. In the 70's the teams would come in through the Oneida County Airport about 1 mile from my house, I'm sure I got autographs from the 1982 game mentioned above, and it's played on the smallest field imaginable, and and and....

...there got to be even less point.

I guess the point is one day of baseball that isn't making a load of cash is something no one cares about. And yes, to me, that blows.

The best would be having a game using just HOF'ers but that would be pretty hard in the respect of finding 18 HOF'ers who can still play :)

Next best would be having a game using guys on the ballot this year vs. an All HOF team (should be able to get 9 HOF'ers total plus a spare pitcher or two).

Who would/could play? Listing guys who should be able to play a bit still...

CA: Carter, Fisk might be able to catch an inning as might Bench
1B: Eddie Murray/Tony Perez
2B: Sandberg/Carew (maybe)/Joe Morgan
3B: George Brett/Wade Boggs/Mike Schmidt
SS: Ozzie Smith/Cal Ripken
OF: Tony Gwynn
OF: Robin Yount
OF: Dave Winfield
DH: Molitor/Reggie Jackson

SP: Nolan Ryan (wow, last starting pitcher elected), Sutton, Phil Niekro (hey, knuckball at 10 MPH!), Carlton, Seaver, Jenkins, Palmer, Perry
RP: Goose, Fingers, Sutter (if his arm still works), Eck

Those guys are about all that are under 70 from what I can tell. Others might get a pinch hit appearance for fun. Bit short on outfielders though (Yaz is pushing it for a 5th outfielder).

You could have the HOF'ers mix into the game with the next guys for the ballot (plus holdovers) playing. That way the recently retired could try to make a last 'see I was good' arguement before the press votes on them.

Eh, it would be more fun that the current method and I bet would get more viewership on the MLB.tv channel.

OF: Tony Gwynn

I don't know about the other guys, but Gwynn isn't going to be able to play in the OF, even for an inning.

This news strikes me very much like hearing that a restaurant I haven't been to for 10 years has closed. On one level I'm kind of bummed, but on another more rational level it doesn't make much of a difference to me.

I blame this on Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.

The thing that made it look ludicrously pointless to me was that the teams involved were...two random major-league teams. Not even a rematch of the world series, or a rematch of anything, or a vaguely All-Star-ish game, or a game between players who especially want to be there. Why the Blue Jays and Orioles? Because their road trips were passing by that area at the time?

I think the "minor league futures game" should be renamed the Hall of Fame Game and take place at Doubleday Stadium. There's a game worth watching.

SP: Nolan Ryan

If he's facing that lineup in 2009, an eighth no-hitter is likely :)

This game died the day they decided to move it away from induction weekend. It used to be played on the day before the ceremony. My feeling was the players cared a little more about being there because all the current HOF's were in town. Once they moved it into June it stopped being a part of the HOF induction weekend and was just another exhition game.

Heh. Fun trying to figure out which HOF'ers can at least swing a bat. I know Fergie Jenkins looked like he could still pitch a year or so ago and talked like he would enjoy it too (very competitive guy). I suspect most of the HOF'ers would want to swing a bat or throw a ball but most would also be a bit embarassed about being seen doing it at this stage too. Still, I bet many would jump at the chance to be playing in front of a crowd again as I'm sure that rush was always a big thing in their lives.

I'm sure I'm blanking out on something but why couldn't Gwynn play? Did he get a serious injury recently?

Gwynn is orca-fat these days.

On occasion, when an affliate opens a new ballpark (which happened in Greensboro two years ago), or when a new affiliate joins an organization (which happened when the Mudcats became a Florida affiliate), the parent club will play an exhibition there before the season starts as a "welcoming" present.

This happens every year (before the season) in Sacramento. I suspect the reason the A's play the Rivercats is to market the parent club to the large Sacramento fanbase. However, there have been a handful of pre-season major league games (Oakland vs. Team X) played at Raley Field (since it opened 8 years ago), and I believe there was one which featured two out of market major league teams. I have no idea why they scheduled a late March preseason game in Sacramento. One thing is certain, the Giants have never been invited to play at Raley Field.

EDIT: I just looked up the schedule on the River Cats website. I don't see it listed that the A's will be appearing in Sacto this year.

If it's about raising revenue and exposure for the HOF, then make it an old-timers game. The NFL alumni play in an an annual golf tourney here in Saratoga Springs. Raised thousands of $$$ for their charity.
How hard would it be to rouse up 50 veterans, including some HOFers, to play in a game once per year. It could be broadcast on ESPN, too.

This game died the day they decided to move it away from induction weekend. It used to be played on the day before the ceremony. My feeling was the players cared a little more about being there because all the current HOF's were in town.

Exactly right.

I didn't realize until reading this article that it used to be held during induction weekend. That would certainly explain why it was seen as non-pointless at at least one point in history.

The thing that made it look ludicrously pointless to me was that the teams involved were...two random major-league teams. Not even a rematch of the world series, or a rematch of anything, or a vaguely All-Star-ish game, or a game between players who especially want to be there. Why the Blue Jays and Orioles? Because their road trips were passing by that area at the time?

I thought usually at least one of the teams was a team that one of the HOFers being inducted was a team of. I would guess Baltimore was there last year because of Ripken's induction. This year - Padres because of Gossage I would assume.

I didn't realize until reading this article that it used to be held during induction weekend. That would certainly explain why it was seen as non-pointless at at least one point in history.

And I had forgotten it had been moved off of HOF weekend. To me, it was a great way to cap off induction weekend. It does seem a little pointless in June.

I would like to see it revived in some fashion, either featuring minor leaguers or old-timers, but back at induction weekend. There just needs to be some live baseball that weekend.

Starting no later than the 2002 CBA, there was a clause banning all in-season exhibition games except for the Hall of Fame Game. The current CBA has the same clause in Artice V, Section C, clause 3.

Dizzy Dean will be happy.

I thought usually at least one of the teams was a team that one of the HOFers being inducted was a team of.

I believe this is/was a correct assumption. So having the team playing that was a representative of an inductee made it an even more appealing draw. Fans there to see their hero get inducted also got to see their team play.

"Gwynn is orca-fat these days."

I can't even begin to tell you how sad this story made me when I first read it. Apparently, he had let himself go to the point that his max bench press was 40 pounds.

This sucks even more than Burger King no longer serving The Whopper.

Starting no later than the 2002 CBA, there was a clause banning all in-season exhibition games except for the Hall of Fame Game. The current CBA has the same clause in Artice V, Section C, clause 3.

The Red Sox will begin their regular season in Japan, return to the west coast and play 3 exhibition games vs the Dodgers, then resume regular season games at Oakland. So I guess there was a special waiver of some sort to allow this?

Article XV(J) covers International Play, though it doesn't really specify what the rules; the two parties merely agree to negotiate the rules for each instance.

I think I remember that being discussed at the time, Vlad, and it being a typo for "140" pounds.

Otherwise he lost twenty pounds and quintupled his strength!

Rich (#24):

Perhaps the annual A's vs. Rivercats game is off this year because of the games against the Red Sox in Japan.

The only HOF game I ever went to was Yankees/Braves in 1987. Pam Postema was the home plate ump.