This Day in History: , US Baseball Hall of br Fame Elects First Members.br January 29, 1936.br Based in Cooperstown, NY, the br Baseball Hall of Fame was br established to jumpstart the area’s br Depression-ravaged economy.br The Baseball Writers’ Association br of America chose the five greatestbr superstars of the game as the br first class to be inducted.br The first members br were Ty Cobb.br Babe Ruth, .br Honus Wagner.br Christy Matthewson .br and Walter Johnson.