On a day when the National Baseball Hall of Fame took center stage and Goose Gossage was deservedly elected to be enshrined in Cooperstown's halls, I started thinking about the storied history of Minor League Baseball and how it would be amazing to have a place where the treasures of that aspect of the national pastime were kept.Yes, Cooperstown does have some Minor League displays based on individual achievements. But there isn't a wing devoted permanently to the game played down on the farm. And there certainly isn't a separate museum to honor former Minor League greats.
There has been some effort in this regard. Minor League Baseball has been exploring building something in Durham to celebrate its brand of the game. Described more as an interactive fan experience than a museum, it certainly would not ignore the past.
"We wouldn't tread into the Hall of Fame waters, so to speak," said Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner, who hoped to have a soft opening of this "experience" at the old Durham ballpark in late 2008, with an official opening in 2009 and the fan interaction part really getting going around 2010.
"I'm a traditionalist. There are two things there is one of: there is one commissioner of baseball and there is one Hall of Fame. Anything we do would obviously pay honor and tribute, but it will not head down the Hall of Fame road."
Some feel that road isn't right for Minor League Baseball anyway. Being enshrined in such a place could be, as Crash Davis explains in "Bull Durham," like setting the all-time Minors home run record -- a dubious honor. Dave Chase, the president and general manager of the Memphis Redbirds, is among those who feel a Minors Hall doesn't make that much sense.
"Especially now, people don't want to be known as great Minor League players," Chase said. "It doesn't resonate nationally."
Mayo has a list of ten players who would potentially be in an inaugural minor league hall of fame class.
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