Baseball Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Bob Feller wave to the crowd during a parade on Main Street in Cooperstown, N.Y., prior to Sunday's classic game at Doubleday Field. (Photo by Cheryl Clough / The Daily Star)

By P.J. Harmer
CNHI News Service

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - It might not have been the best baseball, but it didn't need to be.

Seven Hall of Famers and 22 former major leaguers played seven innings in the Baseball Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown on Sunday, entertaining 7,006 fans on a warm and partly sunny afternoon at Doubleday Field.

Former major leaguer Mark Whiten hit two homers and earned MVP honors as Team Feller beat Team Killebrew, 9-0. The teams were captained by Hall of Famers Bob Feller, 91, and Harmon Killebrew, 73, respectively.

The final score didn't much matter, as the former pros mingled with fans and played gags on each other.

"It means memories," said Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, whose shortstop career included 15 years with the St. Louis Cardinals. "That's what the journey is all about. It's about the memories that we as players are able to create and share with the fans. ... It's always a fun time."

Hall of Famers Phil Niekro and Rollie Fingers were the starting pitchers. Niekro got the victory with one scoreless inning

"I'm surprised I'm starting," said Fingers before the game. "I'm not used to doing that. I'm used to finishing stuff."

He took Sunday's loss, giving up two runs on a Whiten homer in the bottom of the first.

Smith said the classic, in its second year, is good for fans and players.

"It's always special because the one thing you miss when you retire from the game is not necessarily the competition itself but the camaraderie that you develop through the years," he said. "A lot of these guys I played against and played with. Having time to spend time with them is always special."

P.J. Harmer writes for The Daily Star in Oneonta, N.Y.