Why is the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown?

Cooperstown, New York is widely believed to be the birthplace of the sport of baseball, making it a suitable site for the sport's Hall of Fame. While some sources discredit the small town's status as the actual birthplace of the sport, Major League Baseball continues to promote the town's mythical status.

According to MLB.com, the exact origins of baseball aren't exactly cut-and-dry. Some claim that Abner Doubleday invented the sport in a cow pasture in Cooperstown, while others insist the game is English in origin. Baseball does seem to have roots in other parts of the country, and even other parts of the world, but that doesn't mean that Cooperstown isn't a special place for baseball fans.