Today in sports history -- Baseball Hall of Fame

Seventy years ago today, the Baseball Hall of Fame opened its doors in Cooperstown, New York, on the shores of Lake Otsego. It's about a seven-hour drive from Cleveland.

As was the case with our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there were already several baseball Hall of Famers by the time the Hall opened: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner in 1936; Cy Young, Tris Speaker and Nap Lajoie -- all of whom played significant portions of their careers in Cleveland -- in 1937; and Grover Cleveland Alexander -- who did not play in Cleveland, even though that was his middle name -- in 1938. Today, those nine men would all be no-doubt, first-ballot guys, but as the Hall was finding its way, it only inducted a few a year, which seems prudent.

There are now 286 Hall of Famers, which in my opinion is too many. Who's going to go through and read 286 plaques? But the Hall is a magnificent place for baseball lovers to visit. I went there in about 1991 or '92, and though I spent several wonderful hours in that building, I did not see everything -- not even close. I urge anyone who loves the game to make the trip. You won't be disappointed.