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Cooperstown ’s Doubleday Field has hosted the annual major league exhibition contest since 1940. Hall of Fame officials say that the complex major league schedules have become too difficult to navigate.  

Many older local fans can recall the days when planes transporting the Major League teams scheduled to appear in Cooperstown would land at the

Airport in Oriskany and spend the night at local hotels. Over the past several decades, major league teams have made it one day trip and often have some of their biggest name players stay home. 

The annual exhibition pours thousands of dollars into the

County economy, drawing large numbers of fans into Leatherstocking Country. Traditionally held on the same day as the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, the past several Hall of Fame games had been separated from Induction Weekend, giving the local economy two shots in the arm. After this season, one of those injections of tourists and money will be gone.  

The final Hall of Fame Game will be on Monday, June 16^th, featuring the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres.