Hall of Fame to Celebrate Historic 2014 with Community Day on Sunday, Oct. 5

Residents of Otsego County Receive Free Hall of Fame Admission

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – As baseball’s best begin their quest for postseason celebrations, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate an unforgettable 2014 with a little help from its Otsego County friends and neighbors.

The Hall of Fame will host Community Day on Sunday, Oct. 5, with all Otsego County residents admitted to the Museum free of charge during normal Museum hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum will host programs throughout the day as well as a 1:30 p.m. Cider and Donuts Reception featuring Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark and Museum President Jeff Idelson, who will share details on upcoming Museum initiatives and take questions from visitors.

Museum programs on Community Day will include:

12-2 p.m. – Make Your Own Hall of Fame Plaque (Learning Center)

12-2 p.m. – Vintage Base Ball games with Pete Young (Cooper Park)

1:30 p.m. – Cider and Donuts Reception with Chairman Jane Forbes Clark and President Jeff Idelson (Plaque Gallery)

2 p.m. – Memories of Opening Day roundtable, featuring Homer Osterhoudt, a Cooperstown resident who was present on June 12, 1939, when the Museum made its public debut, and former Museum Chief Curator Ted Spencer (Bullpen Theater)

3 p.m. – A screening of the film A Hall for Heroes, A history of the origin of National Baseball Hall of Fame and its first induction ceremony in 1939. Narrated by Bob Costas and featuring Cooperstown natives Catherine Walker and Homer Osterhoudt (Bullpen Theater)

In order to gain free admission, visitors must present a government-issued identification with an Otsego County address at the Museum’s main ticket booth.

Community Day will follow the new Cooperstown Field Day on Saturday, Oct. 4, an all-day free village event that will honor Cooperstown’s culture, community, artistry and history.