Cubs To Play In Final Hall of Fame Game

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jan 30, 2008 3:00PM

Since 1940, two Major League Baseball teams have been honored each year with an invitation to play in the Hall of Fame Game -- an in-season exhibition game held in Cooperstown, New York. But because of the increasing complexity of fitting the "off day" game into teams' schedules, the 2008 game will be the final one.

The Cubs -- who also played in that first 1940 game -- were chosen to play in the final Hall of Fame Game on June 16, where they will face off against the San Diego Padres in a rematch of the 1984 NLCS.

The game is just part of an entire day of festivities, kicking off with a parade down Main St. and a home run derby before the game in Doubleday Field. The exhibition game no longer takes place simultaneously with the inductions of new members into the Hall of Fame. Those wanting to see Goose Gossage inducted will have to visit Cooperstown on July 27.

Chicagoist is a sucker for the history and tradition of baseball--that's one of the reasons we consider it to be our favorite sport--so we're sad to hear that the Hall of Fame Game will be retired after 2008. Certainly there were other options -- playing the game right before the regular season begins, or perhaps having the game count as part of a regular season series. Hell, even play a whole series in Cooperstown. Sadly, the lost ticket revenue probably takes precedence over the game's legacy in today's business of baseball.

Photo via Wikipedia