Yankees Slugger Alfonso Soriano Headed to Cooperstown for Hall of Fame Classic, May 23

New Roster of Recently Retired Stars to Join Hall of Famers Fingers, Glavine, Niekro, Pérez, Smith and Yount in Memorial Day Weekend Legends Game

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Last year, Alfonso Soriano was playing in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. This year, he’ll be playing at the home of baseball – in Cooperstown.

The former Yankees’ Cooperstown dream becomes a reality Memorial Day Weekend when he suits up for the Hall of Fame Classic at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field. Soriano, who claimed two All-Star Game selections and two American League pennants in New York, will represent the Bronx Bombers as one of 30 former major league players who will participate in the annual event for the National Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, May 23.

Soriano was a dynamic player during his first two full seasons with the Yankees. In 2002, Soriano became only the second Yankees player in history to record 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season, joining Bobby Bonds. He repeated the feat again in 2003, helping to lead the Yankees to their sixth World Series appearance in eight seasons.

During his second stint with New York in 2013, Soriano tied a Major League Baseball record by driving in 18 runs over a four-game stretch. In total, Soriano compiled a .276 batting average and .492 slugging percentage during his seven seasons in the Bronx.

Overall, Soriano played 16 big league seasons with the Yankees, Rangers, Nationals and Cubs, totaling 412 home runs, 289 stolen bases and seven All-Star Game selections.

The 2015 Hall of Fame Classic, presented for the seventh straight year by the Ford Motor Company, will feature six Hall of Fame legends and players representing all 30 Major League Baseball teams. The seven-inning legends game at Doubleday Field highlights a weekend of family entertainment programs designed to celebrate the timeless connection of baseball across generations while saluting the contributions of those who served our nation’s military.

Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Tom Glavine, Phil Niekro, Tony Pérez, Ozzie Smith and Robin Yount will serve as managers and coaches for the Classic.

The roster of players scheduled to appear at the Hall of Fame Classic includes:

Bobby Abreu (Phillies; two-time All-Star hit .291 with 288 home runs over 18 seasons)
Rick Ankiel (Nationals; won 11 games as pitcher in 2000 before re-emerging for seven years as outfielder)
Steve Avery (Braves; 1991 NLCS MVP was part of stellar Braves rotation in early 1990s)
Greg Cadaret (Athletics; lefty reliever appeared in 451 games over 10 seasons)
Vinny Castilla (Rockies; three-time Silver Slugger Award-winner at third base topped 30 homers in six seasons)
Ron Cey (Dodgers; six-time All-Star third baseman totaled 316 career home runs)
David Dellucci (Diamondbacks; versatile outfielder helped Diamondbacks win 2001 World Series)
Jim Eisenreich (Royals; career .290 hitter and World Series champion during 15 big league seasons)
John Franco (Mets; ranks first all-time among lefties with 424 saves and his 1,119 games rank third all-time)
Travis Fryman (Indians; five-time All-Star third baseman reached the 20-homer mark in seven seasons)
Charles Johnson (Marlins; four-time Gold Glove Award-winning catcher helped Marlins win 1997 World Series)
Jacque Jones (Twins; powerful outfielder reached 20-homer mark four times in 10 years)
Mark Loretta (Padres; two-time All-Star second baseman recorded 208 hits for Padres in 2004)
Roy Oswalt (Astros; two-time 20-game winner totaled 163 victories in 13 seasons)
Kerry Robinson (Cardinals; speedy outfielder appeared in three postseason series with Cardinals)
Iván Rodríguez (Rangers; 14-time All-Star catcher becomes Hall of Fame eligible in 2017)
Aaron Rowand (White Sox; All-Star center fielder was part of World Series winners with White Sox and Giants)
Eddie Taubensee (Reds; steady-hitting catcher who averaged .273 over 11 seasons)
Alan Trammell (Tigers; four-time Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop powered Tigers for 20 seasons)
Dan Wheeler (Rays; durable reliever appeared in 589 games over 13 seasons)
Jack Wilson (Pirates; All-Star shortstop anchored Pirates infield for almost a decade)

Additions to the Hall of Fame Classic roster will be announced in the coming weeks.

With the popular A Night at the Museum program on Classic Weekend already sold out, the only way to see the legends of the game in Cooperstown is at the Hall of Fame Classic. Tickets are now on sale via phone at 1-877-726-9028 or at www.baseballhall.org. Tickets for the Hall of Fame Classic are $12.50 for first and third base seats and $11 for general admission outfield seats.

The Classic, fueled by assistance from MLB, features the pre-game Home Run 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.

Fans can maximize their Hall of Fame Classic Weekend experience with the Classic Connection ticket package, which features a Hall of Fame Classic ticket and a one-day Museum admission pass for just $12.50, a savings of $23 off the regular rate.

The Museum will also offer events as part of Classic Weekend tailored for a variety of audiences, including the Cooperstown Classic Clinic for youngsters ages 7-12 on Friday, May 22 from 4-7 p.m. An exclusive photo opportunity with Hall of Fame members will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 9 a.m. Pre-Orders are required for both opportunities by calling 607-547-0397.

Also as part of Classic Weekend, Hall of Fame members will lead an exclusive golf outing, with a limited number of spots available for golfers, at the beautiful Leatherstocking Golf Course on Otsego Lake. For more information on supporting the Hall of Fame through this exclusive golf outing, please call 607-547-0310.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has teamed up with Sports Travel and Tours to offer baseball fans a one-stop opportunity to purchase Classic Weekend travel packages. For more information or to plan a trip to Cooperstown, please call 1-888-310-HALL (4255). Membership participants receive a 5% discount on all their baseball travel packages.