Hall of Famers enjoy return to Cooperstown for Classic
Wade Boggs called it “Heaven” upon arriving. Others on the sport’s most exclusive team shared similar thoughts.
As Cooperstown prepares for the 12th edition of the Hall of Fame Classic – a seven-inning exhibition featuring recently retired big leaguers from all 30 teams that wasn’t played the past two years due to COVID precautions – some of those select few with their bronze images forever adorning the walls of the Plaque Galley began arriving in the small upstate New York village.
At the start of Memorial Day Weekend – appropriately the unofficial start of summer – on Saturday, May 28, the Hall of Fame Classic will be played at historic Doubleday Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. The Classic will also feature a pre-game Home Run Derby at noon.
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Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins and Ozzie Smith will manage their respective teams, while fellow Hall of Famers Boggs, Tim Raines, Ted Simmons, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell will serve as coaches.
“I never get enough of Cooperstown,” said Boggs, the longtime third baseman elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005. “It’s always special coming back for Induction Weekend, but anytime you get an opportunity to come back and enjoy Cooperstown it’s very special. The more times I’m here the better.”
A participant while a member of the Boston Red Sox in the 1985 and ‘89 Hall of Fame Games – the former exhibition played between two major league teams – Boggs was also a coach in the 2017 Hall of Fame Classic.
Asked if he considered playing in this year’s Classic, Boggs laughed and said: “The water’s way under the bridge for that.”
As for pitching in the contest, Boggs, who took the mound in two big league games, said he might consider it if he can honor Phil Niekro. “Maybe I can throw the knuckleball in honor of Knucksie. You never know. I might toe the slab for an inning or so.”
Those players scheduled to participate in the 2022 Hall of Fame Classic include:
Bobby Abreu (Phillies), Willie Aikens (Royals), Alex Avila (Tigers), Carlos Baerga (Guardians), Pat Borders (Blue Jays), Steve Buechele (Rangers), Bruce Chen (Braves), José Contreras (White Sox), Keith Foulke (Red Sox), David Freese (Cardinals), Carlos González (Rockies), Craig Grebeck (Angels), Garrett Jones (Pirates), Terrance Long (Athletics), Justin Maxwell (Nationals), Corky Miller (Reds), Carlos Peña (Rays), Ryan Rowland-Smith (Mariners), Steve Sax (Dodgers), Tim Stauffer (Padres), Nick Swisher (Yankees), Steve Swisher (Cubs), Matt Wieters (Orioles), Chris Young (Diamondbacks) and Todd Zeile (Mets).
Jenkins, the Hall of Fame Class of 1991 member, said it’s always fun coming back to Cooperstown.
“I try to make all the different inductions,” he added. “And with the absence of the Hall of Fame Classic for a couple of years, it’s good time to come back, especially now that I’m a manager along with Ozzie Smith.
“Basically, this town changed my life with the induction into the Hall of Fame. When you’re able to put ‘HOF’ behind your name it does change your life. So coming back to where it all started, that’s very important.”
So what’s his strategy going to be leading Team Fergie?
“Not to give up a lot of home runs because I know there’s gonna be a lot of them hit. It’s a small ballpark,” he said with a laugh. “Also, just have the guys go out there and have fun and try not to get hurt. We’re older. Don’t get hurt.”
Does the longtime Cubs twirler with 284 victories, now 79, have a few innings left in his right arm?
“No. Those days are done,” he said with a smile. “But it’s nice to see some of the guys we have coming back to play.”
One week ago, Jenkins was in the news when the six-time 20-game winner was honored with a statue near those of fellow Cubs teammates and Hall of Famers Ron Santo, Billy Williams and Ernie Banks outside Wrigley Field.
“The nice part of it is now all four of us are together,” Jenkins said. “We were all teammates playing baseball together, so it’s good to be honored and to have my fellow teammates all together.”
While George Brett, Class of 1999, won’t be involved in the Hall of Fame Classic, he was in Cooperstown to help promote an upcoming movie about former Kansas City Royals teammate Willie Aikens. But while in Cooperstown he did talk about his feelings upon returning.
“It’s always special…I look forward to coming every year that I’ve been able to make it. I’ve always had a wonderful time here.”
While in town, Brett did manage to have dinner with Lee Smith.
“I don’t know Lee all that well,” Brett said. “I was never really friendly with opposing pitchers. I don’t think they liked me. I didn’t like them. So it was fun to get to know him a little bit last night.”
Brett is looking forward to returning to the Induction Ceremony in July, too.
“I haven’t come the last couple years because of COVID,” Brett said. “So I haven’t seen Larry Walker. I haven’t seen Derek Jeter. I haven’t seen any of these people. So I’ll be doing a lot of introductions what I get here.”
Bill Francis is the senior research and writing associate at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
