Hall of Fame’s BASE Race Returns to Doubleday Field May 23 as Part of Hall of Fame Classic Weekend

Big Leaguers from Hall of Fame Classic to Greet Runners at 5K, 10K Races Supporting Museum’s ‘Be A Superior Example’ Program

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – As the nation celebrates the unofficial start of summer, runners in Cooperstown will once again thrill to a trip through baseball’s hometown at the fourth annual BASE Race.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, along with Cooperstown’s Clark Sports Center, will present the annual BASE Race charity runs – a 5k fun run at 8:15 a.m. and a competitive 10k event at 8 a.m. – on Saturday, May 23 – starting and ending at historic Doubleday Field and featuring courses that wind through scenic Cooperstown and along the warning track of the historic ballpark. The race events benefit the Museum’s “Be A Superior Example” program promoting healthy lifestyle choices for individuals of all ages.

Fans are encouraged to support their favorite major league team as part of the 2015 BASE Race, as selected former big league players will be a part of the race activities, as the lead-off event to a full day of programming for the Hall of Fame Classic on May 23.

Registration for the 2015 BASE Race is $25 and $55 for families. Signups are now being accepted online at http://baserace.itsyourrace.com. Each registered runner will receive a T-shirt (for the first 300 runners to register), goodie bag, a free general admission ticket to the Hall of Fame Classic and an admission ticket to the Museum valid on May 23. On race day, registration will be $30 for individuals and $65 for families. Additional details are available by calling the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at 607-547-0397 or the Clark Sports Center at 607-547-2800.

Proceeds from the BASE Race support outreach for BASE, the Hall of Fame’s educational initiative which promotes the concepts of healthy lifestyle choices to a worldwide audience, educating students about the dangers of performance-enhancing substances.

The BASE Race will be part of the Hall of Fame Classic Weekend lineup as the Museum celebrates the longstanding link between baseball and the military during Memorial Day Weekend. Six Hall of Fame legends will be joined by a roster of more than three dozen former major league players for a seven-inning legends game on Saturday, May 23 at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field. The 2015 Hall of Fame Classic is presented by Ford Motor Company.

The Classic, now in its seventh year and fueled by assistance from Major League Baseball, will feature recently retired players representing each of the major league clubs. The Classic will feature the pre-game Hitting Contest at 1 p.m. and the Cooperstown Main Street Game Day Parade at 12 noon. First pitch of the Classic is slated for 2:05 p.m.

To date, the lineup for the 2015 Hall of Fame Classic includes:

Bobby Abreu (Phillies), Rick Ankiel (Nationals), Greg Cadaret (Athletics), Vinny Castilla (Rockies), Ron Cey (Dodgers), Travis Fryman (Indians), Charles Johnson (Marlins), Jacque Jones (Twins), Roy Oswalt (Astros), Kerry Robinson (Cardinals), Aaron Rowand (White Sox), Alan Trammell (Tigers) and Dan Wheeler (Rays)

Hall of Fame Members Rollie Fingers, Tom Glavine, Phil Niekro, Ozzie Smith and Robin Yount will serve as managers and coaches for the Hall of Fame Classic, with another Hall of Fame coach set to be added in the coming weeks. Tickets for the 2015 Hall of Fame Classic are on sale now at www.baseballhall.org or by calling 1-877-726-9028 and are $12.50 for first and third base seats and $11 for general admission outfield seats. Tickets are only available via phone or online.