Chopcast: Returning from Braves-centric weekend in Cooperstown
Main Street in Cooperstown, N.Y., is primarily composed of shops dealing baseball memorabilia and clothing, restaurants playing on baseball-themed menus and decor and, of course, the inconspicuous National Baseball Hall of Fame. But on a weekend where six new members were being inducted into the town's landmark establishment, there are pop-up tents and tables offering food, advertising legendary autographs, opportunities to meet baseball greats and generally to purchase tiny slices of the game's history.
During this past weekend, this scene was littered with Braves fans, the most visible contingent in town to support a six-person class that also included representation from the Yankees (Joe Torre), Cardinals (Tony La Russa) and Chicago (White Sox for Frank Thomas, Cubs for Greg Maddux).
Still, the support for Maddux, who split the majority of his career between Atlanta and Chicago, Tom Glavine and Bobby Cox was unequaled, as was further underscored when the Hall of Fame ceremony was brought to a halt by crowd noise when Hank Aaron was introduced.
As Cox described it: "It could never fall like this again. Two managers I respected my entire career, two of my own players. How much better could that be? It's like something out of heaven that landed here in Cooperstown."
The organization just might have a reason to return soon, too.
Braves writers Zach Dillard and Cory McCartney took in the entire weekend in Cooperstown and, on their way back to New York City, discussed the induction class, the overall experience and everything in between. Here's our 100th episode of the Chopcast:
