The National Baseball Hall of Fame will welcome its five newest members ― CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Billy Wagner and the late Dick Allen and Dave Parker ― Sunday, July 27, at its annual induction ceremony.
The Hall’s largest event of the year draws visitors by the thousands to its museum and the village of Cooperstown for a variety of weekend events.
What’s going on in and around Cooperstown? What should you know if you plan to attend? Read on.
When and where is the Induction Ceremony?
The Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony is a free event on Sunday, July 27, starting at 1:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center south of the village on Otsego County Highway 52.
There is no public parking at the event site. The village’s blue trolley line will transport spectators to the grounds, and the Hall of Fame offers free shuttle service from the corner of Main and Fair streets with continuous service from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will offer return service after the ceremony.
A paid Hank Aaron Lot will be available for the induction on Route 33 east of the site but will not provide transportation.
Parking and shuttle service for spectators with Americans With Disabilities Act permits will be provided at Cooperstown High School.
ADA accessible parking will be available on Saturday, July 26, on Fair Street (Main Street to Lake Street), Main Street (Fair Street to River Street) and on Church Street; and on Sunday, July 27, at Cooperstown Junior-Senior High School, 39 Linden Ave., with shuttle service to and from the Induction Site. State approved ADA permits are required.
There are three free trolley parking lots at the edges of the village. Trolley service runs 8 a.m.-9 p.m. with unlimited use for $5 per day.
Who will be attending this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony?
In addition to Sabathia, Suzuki and Wagner, this year’s three living inductees, 52 of 74 living past inductees are planning to attend Sunday’s ceremony.
Sandy Koufax, the longest tenured living Hall of Famer inducted in 1972, is among those scheduled to attend. Executive Pat Gillick and players Juan Marichal, Billy Williams and Tony Oliva join him as the oldest Hall of Famers on the list.
Joe Mauer, inducted last year, remains the youngest Hall of Famer, almost three years younger than Sabathia, the second player elected who was born in the 1980s.
The returning Hall of Famers are traditionally introduced at the start of the induction ceremony.
Parade of Legends
The annual parade past the Hall of Fame starts at 6 p.m., Saturday, July 26.
The Hall of Famers line up at the intersection of Lake and Chestnut streets, then the procession travels along Chestnut and onto Main Street, proceeding east to the front of the Hall.
The parade lasts about 75 minutes and includes the 2025 inductees, returning Hall of Famers, and winners of the BBWAA and Ford Frick awards.
Awards Presentation
Tickets remain available for Saturday’s presentation of Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters to Tom Hamilton and the Baseball Writers Association of America’s Career Excellence Award – formerly the J.G. Taylor Spink Award – to Tom Boswell at the Glimmerglass Festival’s Alice Busch Opera Theater.
The ceremony, formerly part of the Sunday induction program, is scheduled for 3 p.m.
As part of the awards presentation, Hamilton, a Cleveland announcer, will lead a panel discussion with 1995 American League pennant-winning Indians Hall of Famer Jim Thome, manager Mike Hargrove and executive Mark Shapiro.
Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased by calling (607) 547-0397.
Turn Two with Ozzie Smith
Shortstop Ozzie Smith will put on his annual Turn Two fundraiser for museum education Friday, July 25, at Doubleday Field.
Fellow Hall of Famers Tony La Russa, Jim Thome and Mauer will join Smith for the $1,000 event. Participants receive a morning reception in the Hall’s plaque gallery, a photo with the Hall of Famers, and a commemorative gift to be autographed, along with on-the-field instruction from the Hall of Famers.
MLB Gets In On the Act
For the second year in a row, active major league players will sport the Hall of Fame logo on the right side of their game caps Friday, Saturday and Sunday of induction weekend.
The caps will also feature throwback designs.
The Road to Cooperstown Live
Living inductees Sabathia, Suzuki and Wagner will share stories from their careers and recap their induction weekend Monday at Doubleday Field at a taping for the Hall of Fame’s The Road to Cooperstown podcast.
Jon Morosi from MLB Network will serve as host.
The session starts at 10:30 a.m.
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by Hall of Fame members by calling (607) 547-0397. Annual memberships can also be purchased by calling the same number.
If You Are Not Attending
Sunday’s induction ceremony will be shown live on MLB Network, which has televised each induction since its 2009 launch on cable.
MLB Network coverage begins at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The network will also show Friday’s parade and Saturday’s awards presentation live.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: 7 things to know if you’re heading to Cooperstown for Hall of Fame induction
Reporting by Jon Rathbun, Herkimer Times Telegram / Times Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
