That, in effect, is what the Hall of Fame is doing this year, playing host to two Hall of Fame weekends instead of one. The first, featuring the exhibition game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Doubleday Field next Monday, will be this weekend.

And although it was Major League Baseball's decision to split the weekends into two, the Hall of Fame has made the best of the situation. By chance or not, the first weekend happens to fall on Father's Day Weekend as well, and since the Hall prides itself on being a family institution, they have planned a variety of events for families on Sunday.

Monday is the day when things kick into high gear with a Cooperstown Game Day Parade at noon, which will feature players from the Phillies and Devil Rays, as well as bands, classic cars, floats, the famed Philadelphia Mummers String Band, mascots from both teams, "Casey at the Bat," Morris, and Hall of Fame pitchers Robin Roberts and Gaylord Perry, who also highlight the parade line-up.

Before the parade, Hall of Fame Game ticket holders and Hall of Fame members can attend a special Legends series event, as 2003 Hall of Fame inductee Gary Carter will be joined by fellow Hall of Fame catchers Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk in Cooper Park.

But will that be enough to draw large crowds to Cooperstown?

"Right now, this is a one year experiment. We'll know next week if the weekend was a success," said Hall of Fame spokesman Jeff Idelson. "We feel there is some ambitious programming to complement the game, and there's no reason it shouldn't be a successful weekend for the community."

Highlighting the 2 p.m. Hall of Fame Game is the home run hitting contest, set for 1 p.m. The Phillies and the Devil Rays also have two of the most volatile managers in Larry Bowa and Lou Piniella, respectively. Fans could be just a bad call or two away from seeing a legendary temper tantrum such as the one Piniella had last weekend in Houston, which ended with him being ejected from the game for kicking dirt across home plate after arguing a play at the plate.

This weekend is also the first chance for the museum to be in the spotlight after president Dale Petroskey famously, or infamously, canceled the appearance of "Bull Durham" stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, fearing they would speak out against the war in Iraq.

The Hall of Fame, whose attendance is off 15 percent from last year, could use a good weekend to turn momentum back in its favor.