# M12020 - 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame Silver Dollar, Proof

Own the First Curved US Silver Dollar Proof
Honoring the Baseball Hall of Fame
Only 2 Coins Available!

In 2014, the US Mint produced a set of coins commemorating the 75^th anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  The Mint conducted extensive research to produce these coins – because they would be the first US coins to ever be produced in a curved shape!  The Mint closely studied curved coins of other countries to produce a set of really special coins.  The coins have a dome shape – with the baseball mitt on the front concave (rounded inward) and the baseball on the back convex (domed outward).  The resulting coins have a three-dimensional quality unlike that of any others before them. 

This silver dollar proof coin has a total height of .243 inches.  Compared to a regular half dollar that’s usually about .085 inches thick, that’s quite a significant dome!

What’s a proof coin?  Proofs are the finest coins produced by the US Mint.  The proof blanks are specially treated and hand-polished and cleaned so the images are struck perfectly.  They’re also struck at least twice, which results in a frosted and highly-detailed design and mirror-like background.  You’ll want to see this coin in-person to appreciate all the fine details.  It’ll make a great addition to your coin or sports collection – order now.

Click here to get the Baseball Hall of Fame Half Dollar Proof and here to get the Baseball Hall of Fame uncirculated Silver Dollar.

History of the Baseball Hall of Fame

Plans for a Baseball Hall of Fame date back to 1935. At that time, residents of Cooperstown, New York, sought to improve the small town’s economy in the wake of the Depression.

For years, Cooperstown had been considered the place where baseball began. While other forms of the game had been played before, Abner Doubleday claimed to have formalized the rules of baseball in Cooperstown in 1839. (Though a later investigation would bring his claim into serious doubt.)

In spite of this, the people of Cooperstown lobbied to create a baseball hall of fame in their town. As plans for the museum were in the works, the Hall of Fame selected its first five honorees in 1936 – Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. In the next three years, 21 other players, managers, and executives would be elected for the hall of fame. The hall of fame’s opening was delayed until 1939 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Doubleday’s claim.

So on June 12, 1939, the small town of Cooperstown was flooded with 15,000 spectators for the museum’s grand opening. They were joined by 32 major league baseball players would play an exhibition game after the ceremony. Among those present were 11 honorees and nine eventual Hall of Famers that were still playing the game. Four of the first five honorees were there – Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson. For many people present, this was their first time seeing some of these players.

The museum’s opening was a national event. All major league ballparks closed for the day and the festivities were broadcast nationally over the radio.   The induction ceremony and speeches were very short. After that 32 players (two from each of the 16 major league teams) marched down Main Street to Doubleday Field for a special exhibition game. Honus Wagner and Eddie Collins chose teams and soon Mel Ott was catching with Charlie Cehringer while Dizzy Dean and Lefty Grove tossed the ball back and forth. Then Babe Ruth brought on huge cheers from the crown when he pinch-hit, though it was a foul pop out. Wagner’s team won 4 to 2.

In the years since, the Baseball Hall of Fame, often referred to as simply Cooperstown, has become the home of baseball. Over the years, more than 300 people have been inducted, with honorees joining every year.