## Overview The **National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum**, commonly referred to as the Baseball Hall of Fame, is the premier institution dedicated to preserving the history and honoring the greatest contributors to the sport of baseball. Located in Cooperstown, New York, it operates as a museum, library, and hall of fame, serving as the central repository for baseball artifacts, memorabilia, and historical records[4]. The organization’s mission is encapsulated in its motto: “Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations”[4]. ## History The Hall of Fame was founded in 1939 by Stephen Carlton Clark, a local philanthropist seeking to revitalize Cooperstown’s economy after the Great Depression and Prohibition had devastated local industries[4][5]. The location was chosen based on the now-debunked myth that Civil War general Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown in 1839[1][4]. Despite the myth’s discrediting, the town’s association with baseball’s origins became a powerful marketing tool[4][5]. The inaugural class of inductees—Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson—was elected in 1936, with the museum officially opening on June 12, 1939, coinciding with baseball’s supposed centennial celebration[3][5][6]. The opening drew thousands of fans and featured living Hall of Famers, marking the start of an enduring tradition[3][5]. ## Key Achievements Over the decades, the Hall of Fame has expanded its physical footprint, adding new wings, a plaque gallery, and a research library[3]. It has inducted over 300 players, managers, executives, and umpires, including Jackie Robinson, the first African American elected in 1962[3]. The Hall also recognizes contributors from the Negro Leagues and has broadened its scope to include multimedia exhibits