Nothing wrong with going the last two weeks available in Cooperstown. The competition is a little more manageable for a newer team and the weather is nice. We went during prime time (with a certificate) with a very good team and were done by We'd afternoon but had a great time. Other teams I know went the last week of August (without a certificate) and had a great time. The less competitive teams seem to be registering later in the year. Maybe it's because they are newer teams that don't have grandfather certificates? Either way, I do know a few teams that went last year without certificates but they did end up with late mid to late August dates. The sooner you get your $ in and name on the list, the sooner you are penciled into a date.