Class of 2024 Reflects on Journey to Cooperstown at Legends of the Game Roundtable

The newest inductees of the National Baseball Hall of Fame wrapped up their memorable weekend in Cooperstown at the Legends of the Game Roundtable Monday morning in Cooperstown.

For Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland and Joe Mauer, the memories were fresh as they sat down with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi to reflect on their journey to Cooperstown.

After viewing their plaques on display for the first time at the Museum on Monday, the Class of 2024 headed over to the historic Doubleday Field where they were greeted with congratulatory cheers and an involved crowd that nearly filled the first base bleachers.

Swapping their suits for polo shirts, the new Hall of Famers cracked jokes as they reminisced and expressed appreciation for those who helped them get to where they are today.

Helton got the crowd laughing as he reflected on moments such as throwing Troy Tulowitzki’s unassisted triple play ball into the crowd and having to bargain with a fan to get it back. He even highlighted a few moments from 1999, the year fellow Hall of Fame inductee Jim Leyland managed the Rockies.

Eight years later, Helton and the Rockies had their best season in franchise history when they won the National League pennant.

“We had a lot of good people in that clubhouse and that’s what made it fun,” said Helton of the 2007 Rockies. “And we’re still all good friends today and we still talk. And to me that’s the big part, the friends that you make while you play the game.”

While the Rockies didn’t secure the World Series win that October, Helton’s career remains one for the record books. He played 17 seasons with the Rockies and retired as one of only 11 players in history with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage and 350 home runs.

Beltré reflected on his childhood in the Dominican Republic and how his baseball journey led him to the United States. When answering questions submitted by the audience, Beltre shared advice for young players aspiring to be like the greats.

“Number one is just figure out what works for you and be dedicated to what you want to do,” Beltré said. “Everything is possible in life and I think if you put your mind and your heart into it you can accomplish anything.”

One theme that emerged from the weekend was the appreciation of fans by the inductees.

“You have to love the game, and the more you love the game the more you learn the game and the more you learn the game the more you love the game,” Leyland said. “And I think that was something I always took with me as a kid on the sandlots in Perrysburg, Ohio.”

When asked what they would add to their speech if allowed an extra minute, Mauer shined a light on the fans and the impact that they have on the game.

“I think if there’s one other thing it’s thanking the fans again, you know with all of the events that have happened this week and travel arrangements with the tech problems, just the appreciation for coming out and supporting our class,” Mauer said. “It really means a lot to us to see our team’s colors out there and supporting us. Obviously, we wouldn’t have gotten to this position without so many people but like Jim said earlier it all starts with the fans and they’re the reason we’re here.”

Emma Harby is the 2024 public relations intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Leadership Development