They came from all over. From as nearby as Albany to as far away as Japan, an estimated 28,000 fans flooded Cooperstown last weekend to celebrate the induction of Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Or more accurately, they came to celebrate the sport itself in what Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey called "the spiritual home of baseball" during his opening speech.

"It's like a yearly pilgrimage," said Carol Terry who flew in from Atlanta. "It's special." Terry said she's come every year since 2000, this year with her mom, niece and friend Tina Miller.

"Cooperstown is a wonderful place, heaven on Earth," Miller said.

"It's great, I love it here," said Franklin, Mass. native Nick Dicicco. Dicicco said he's made Cooperstown an annual "baseball getaway" for the last 15 years. This year marked his second time coming for the induction weekend.

Not everyone has been coming to the area for that long. John Diehl from Cincinnati came out with friend Matt Geiger, both of them visiting baseball's shrine for the first time.

"Cooperstown is almost like something out of a movie," Diehl said.

For at least one person, the journey spanned the globe. Devon Cahill grew up in Albany, but is currently employed teaching English in Japan. He flew back to America on vacation and included a trip to Cooperstown with friend Sean Lynch as a part of his stay. Lynch said they've been coming every year for about 10 years.

The majority of those who came were Cubs' fans, evidenced by the sea of red and blue washing over the town and induction ceremony crowd.

"We came for Ryno," said Brenda Howe. Howe came up with friend Mike Kirkman, both from Chicago. She said she enjoyed the ceremony "but I wish they would have had Sandberg up first."

While baseball was their focus for at least a day, the trip to Cooperstown marked only the beginning of Derek and Kate Taylor's journey. Two weeks earlier, the two had exchanged wedding vows in Clinton, NY, Kate's hometown.

"We extended our stay to go to the induction ceremony," said Derek, a Chicago native and Cubs fan.

"This was the highlight of the whole vacation, forget about the wedding," said Kate, rolling her eyes sarcastically.

Mike and Tom Abraham from Chicago take the cake as far as hardcore fans are concerned however. The two brothers spent Saturday night sleeping on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center next to the ESPN booth.

"We're having a great time," said Tom. "We made friends with the security guards and slept next to our cooler." The two had visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Ohio before coming to Cooperstown and planned to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on their way back.