The Doubleday Field committee has put an end to play-by-play announcing during games at the baseball landmark.

Complaints from neighbors and the realization that the announcing was in violation of the village noise ordinance led to the move Tuesday morning.

The play-by-play announcing is most often done by Dick Thompson, who has been announcing games at Doubleday Field for 50 years. His announcing services are made through private arrangements with the teams that come to play on the field.

Dr. Merle Myerson, susquehanna Avenue resident, attended the meeting to address noise emanating from the field with the committee members. She had written to the board previously and asked if the noise ordinance was being violated. Taugher commented at the time that they wanted to get along with neighbors and would monitor the situation.

During Tuesday's meeting Myerson reiterated her complaints, particularly about the noise all day last Saturday when even with windows and doors closed she could still plainly hear the announcements and the rock and rap music being played between innings.

Myerson was accompanied by Dr. Peter Wright, an Elm Street resident, who for years had tried to get the village to reduce the noise coming from the field. Wright said they now have plans to move out of the village, for a number of reasons, not just because of noise.

Years ago, he said, they never really heard the sound from the loudspeaker in the stands, but in recent years that has changed and now they they hear much more. Wright, who said they knolingly moved adjacent to the field, told the committee he though it was appropriate for residents to have some quiet time.

Former mayor Wendell Tripp also addressed the board saying he was there with a "little personal embarrassment and regret."

Tripp said the noise problems for neighbors is not a new one and has been going on for years. Tripp said he, in his ignorance, had through the Doubleday Field announcing arrangments were connected to the village.

"I though it was a village arrangement, not a private arrangement," he said. "This is a clear violation of the noise ordinance and cannot be legalized by a blanket permit.

Dick Thompson was on the meeting agenda and spoke on his behalf, telling the committee that he always tried to be careful not to use a volume level that would reach beyond the infield.

"I've been here since 1957, but it's your ballgame. I've never had a complaint," Thompson said.

Committee member and President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Dale Petroskey said that "as someone who loves the game I view Doubleday Field as sacred ground and never favor rock music being played between innings in Cooperstown," he said.

Another committee member, Howard Talbot, suggested that the only amplified sound equipment that should be allowed to be used was the system already installed at the field. Thompson had been using his own equipment. Talbot reasoned that the village could set the volume control on the public address system at a level that would not disturb neighbors.

The village charges for the use of the system and it would add an extra $100 to the cost of playing at the field, according to Stuart Taugher, committee chairman. Teams wanting to use the sound system would also have to apply for an amplified sound permit which has an accompanying $25 fee and must filed with the clerk five days prior to the event.

"The additional charges may eliminate a lot of the noise problems," Taugher said.

The committee decided that they would allow the introduction of players from each team, a brief statement about Doubleday Field and the playing of the National Anthem, but no play-by-play announcing.

Teams would be free to hire Thompson to do the brief pre-game announcing, but would have to apply five days in advance for the permit.

"There's going to be some disappointment no matter how we do it," Taugher said.