Inductions of Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig Highlight Hall of Fame Weekend 2017, July 28-31

Cooperstown Weekend Honors Historic Class of 2017 with Activities, Celebrations

(COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.) – On the field and off it, the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 made an indelible mark on baseball for a combined five decades.

Today, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig are a little more than a week away from the game’s ultimate achievement: A plaque in Cooperstown.

More than 50 Hall of Famers are scheduled to be in Central New York to honor the Class of 2017 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum during Hall of Fame Weekend, July 28-31. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Bagwell, Raines, Rodríguez, Schuerholz and Selig, will be held Sunday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Clark Sports Center – located one mile south of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The election of Bagwell, Raines and Rodríguez by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in January, along with the election of Schuerholz and Selig by the Today’s Game Era Committee in December, brings the total number of elected Hall of Famers to 317.

The Induction Ceremony will be shown live on MLB Network, which has televised the event every year since its launch in 2009. The Induction Ceremony will also be shown via webcast at baseballhall.org.

The Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m. on July 29 at Doubleday Field and will feature the presentation of the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award to Rachel Robinson, the awarding of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for writers to Claire Smith and the posthumous honoring of Bill King, the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters.

The Awards Presentation, which will be hosted by MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger, is free and open to the public.

Also on Saturday, July 29, the Hall of Fame Parade of Legends returns for an eighth year to provide fans with more thrills. Hall of Famers will ride down Main Street in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company during the 6 p.m. parade, en route to a private reception at the Museum. The Parade of Legends will immediately follow the Awards Presentation, and both will be livestreamed on the Museum’s Facebook page at facebook.com/baseballhall.

The Sunday, July 30 Induction Ceremony, hosted by MLB Network’s Brian Kenny, will take place on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, which is located on lower Susquehanna Avenue, unless severe weather cancels the event. Follow the Hall of Fame on Twitter @baseballhall for the latest updates.

Please note that professional interpreters will be provided for the hearing impaired. The event will be held outdoors rain or shine.

As of July 20, an expected 55 Hall of Famers, including Class of 2017 members Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, are scheduled to be part of Hall of Fame Weekend festivities in Cooperstown:


The Ceremony is expected to last three hours. Seating for the event is unlimited and free of charge. A blanket or lawn chair is recommended for comfortable viewing. As the weather in Cooperstown can be quite warm in July, it is recommended that visitors bring a cap and sunscreen. Ball caps, Yearbooks and Museum membership packages are available for purchase at the Induction site. Refreshments are sold at the site.

Family activities scheduled throughout Hall of Fame Weekend 2017 include the following special events:

Hall of Fame Weekend Events

Friday, July 28 PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith & special guests, Plaque Gallery and On Field (with Fergie Jenkins, Randy Johnson & Ryne Sandberg) * Registration fee required 8 a.m.

Saturday, July 29 Hall of Fame Awards Presentation, Doubleday Field, 4:30 p.m; Hall of Fame Parade of Legends, Main Street 6 p.m.

Sunday, July 30 Induction Ceremony, Clark Sports Center, 1:30 p.m.

Monday, July 31 Legends of the Game Roundtable: Featuring Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, Doubleday Field, 10:30 a.m.

PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith – with special guests Fergie Jenkins, Randy Johnson and Ryne Sandberg: Ozzie Smith returns in a fundraiser for the Hall of Fame’s educational mission with a unique opportunity for fans, featuring fellow Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Randy Johnson and Ryne Sandberg. This two-hour event features non-stop interaction at each station with a living legend and includes special mementos. Spaces are limited to 60 participants. The donation is $875 per person, with Hall of Fame Members admitted for $675. To reserve your spot, please call 607-547-0397. 8 a.m., Friday.

Hall of Fame Parade of Legends: Join the pageantry and excitement as the Hall of Famers ride in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company down Main Street on their way to a private reception at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Fans are encouraged to attend the Awards Presentation prior to making their way to the Parade. Main Street, 6 p.m., Saturday.

Legends of the Game Roundtable: The Hall of Fame’s newest members, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, participate in the Legends of the Game Roundtable event at historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. This event is for Members only and tickets are available now by visiting the Membership desk in the Museum or by calling 607-547-0397. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. Doubleday Field, 10:30 a.m., Monday.

Hall of Fame Members are afforded special opportunities throughout the Weekend. As a nonprofit educational institution, membership support advances the Museum's programs and aids in the preservation of artifacts and archival materials that document the rich history of America's game. Additionally, membership packages are wonderful and unique gifts for friends and family. Members enjoy many privileges, including free admission to the Hall of Fame year-round. To learn more about the program and its many benefits, please visit baseballhall.org/join.

Additional Hall of Fame Weekend Privileges for Members
• Free admission to the Museum throughout the year
• A special Members-only entrance to the Hall of Fame to avoid long lines
• Exclusive early access to the Museum on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
• VIP reserved seating for the Induction for Contributor, Benefactor and President's Circle Members
• Exclusive access to the Legends Roundtable event on Monday

The Museum maintains the following Hall of Fame Weekend hours: Friday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Plaque Gallery closes at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday); Sunday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Monday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Advance tickets are not necessary but are available by contacting the Hall of Fame at 888-425-5633 or by visiting baseballhall.org/visit. For Hall of Fame Members, doors open at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m. on Monday. As always, Hall of Fame Members receive free admission. A special Members-only entrance eliminates the need to wait in line. Interested parties may enroll in the Membership program in advance or at the Museum.

Parking will be extremely limited in Cooperstown during Hall of Fame Weekend. As is the case throughout the summer, the village will make parking and trolley service available at three trolley lots in Cooperstown. The Cooperstown Trolley will provide transit to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field from three different locations: the Red Lot on Route 28 (Glen Avenue) at Maple Street; the Blue Lot on Route 28 just south of Cooperstown; and the Yellow Lot on Route 80 at the upper parking lot of the Fenimore Art Museum. All-day passes are available for $2 per person. The Trolley will operate throughout Hall of Fame Weekend daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Follow the trolley’s stops at followthetrolley.com.

If you need assistance with accommodations during your stay, please visit cooperstowngetaway.org. For driving directions from major cities, area cities and local airports, visit the directions page at the Hall of Fame’s website for more information: baseballhall.org/visit/cooperstown.