Induction Weekend brings baseball’s best to Cooperstown

As the final touches are completed in preparation for the induction of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, the Village of Cooperstown became the epicenter of the game on Thursday during the unofficial start of baseball’s best weekend.

With the baseball world gazing its eyes on the Leatherstocking Region of New York, the lobby of The Otesaga Resort Hotel, looking over picturesque Otsego Lake, was awash with early arrivals, both rookies and veterans, as Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland and Joe Mauer get set for their moment in the sun.

Looking across the wide expanse of the hotel lobby, with its high ceiling and ornate fixtures, was the good-natured congeniality often seen between former teammates and onetime rivals that are now part of the exclusive 346 elected members of the Hall of Fame.

“It’s always a pleasure to make it back to Cooperstown,” said Trevor Hoffman, the longtime closer with 601 career saves and member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018. “And as we speak, we have absolute perfect weather and picturesque skies and a great view of the lake today. It doesn’t get much better.

“I’m aware of Induction Weekend on January 1, and I love the anticipation. Everything that goes with the weekend. It’s definitely a highlight to be able to come back.”

As for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, Hoffman admits to a special – if begrudging – relationship with Helton. Among batters Hoffman faced at least 25 times, Helton led the way with a .520 batting average (13-for-25).

“Todd was the only (player from the Class of 2024) that was in really the National League at the same time as me,” Hoffman said. “Adrian had some connections with my brother in the Dodgers days and we played against him when he was in Seattle, but most of my interaction was with Todd.

“Todd was kind of cut from the same cloth that I was – you don’t fraternize too much, and you go about your business. You admired from afar. Unfortunately, I was probably a big part of the reason why he got in here so I’m sure he’s excited to see me again.”

Hoffman looks back fondly at his own Induction Weekend.

“Honestly, very few times do things meet or exceed your expectations leading into an event, and there was a lot of nerves around the weekend, but there was a lot of excitement,” Hoffman said. “One, you tell your story, two, you acknowledge those that helped you along the way, and three, just kind of take it all in. It not only met those expectations but exceeded them.

“And to go in with such, in my opinion, one of the better classes of candidates (Vladimir Guerrero, Alan Trammell, Jim Thome, Jack Morris and Chipper Jones)…we bonded quite well that weekend and we kind of still kind of giggle about 2018 being our group. It’s fun. Looking back on it, you don’t get that moment, you don’t get that juice, coming back, but you’re more relaxed and get to listen and watch everybody else. But there certainly wasn’t anything I would change about our Induction Weekend.”

Trammell, like Hoffman, was one of the early arrivals to the 2024 Hall of Fame Weekend.

“Never gets old. I’ll leave it at that. It’s a special feeling. There’s no question about it. And knowing that you’re going to get a chance to see the rest of the fraternity. Never gets old,” said Trammell, the longtime Tigers shortstop. “Having been inducted only a few years ago, in 2018, it still is somewhat of a novelty. And I’ll continue coming back, as I’ve said many times, as long as my health is still good. Cooperstown is beautiful.

“To be able to pay respect to the new classes, I think that’s part of what you’re supposed to do, at least in my mind. And so, I welcome that. And I’m honored to be a part of this. And I will continue to do so as long as I can. It’s always great to see everybody. It’s a time where we can be, even though we’re older, we’re still young at heart. The stories, they never get old. It’s just good to reminisce and to kind of kid around a little bit and kind of think back to the days that we did play and run around.”

Trammell’s advice to the four new inductees?

“Have fun and relax. Well, that’s not going to happen until they get their speech done. And that’s just the fact. Easier said than done,” Trammell said. “As a professional and a Hall of Famer, I know how meticulous they are in everything they do. So, they’re well prepared, and they’re all going to ace their speeches and it’s going to be awesome. But I can tell you this: they’re looking forward to the time when they’re done, and they get to go to the dinner and let their hair down a little bit. Just start to relax a little bit, but that won’t happen until the speeches are over.”

According to Dave Winfield, the 6-foot-6 outfielder with 3,110 career hits and 465 home runs: “It’s always good to come back here to the Hall. Seeing the guys reinvigorates my spirit. It’s just a good time of the year. I think I’ve only missed one since I was inducted in 2001.

“Sometimes we don’t see each other at all during the year. This may be our only chance, so we all take advantage of it. We stay up late. Eat, drink, laugh together. And every once in a while, one of the guys says his dad was his own hero, like Larry Walker. His dad joined us for dinner, and I guarantee that’s one of those all-time memorable things for him to be in the room with a half a dozen Hall of Famers telling stories, laughing and joking and including him as one of the guys.”

But, Winfield added, unfortunately sometimes it’s the last time you see some of your friends.

“I got a chance to play against Willie Mays (who passed away at the age of 93 on June 18). His last year, 1973, was my first. So, I was on the field at the same time as him, something I always remember,” Winfield said. “Our country looked up to baseball players, probably more than any other athletes. And I wanted to be a little bit like him.

“He played the game with fervor, but he played with it with joy and a smile on his face. I liked that.”

This year, 54 of the 75 living Hall of Famers, including the Class of 2024, are scheduled to be in Cooperstown for the Induction Ceremony, to be held Sunday, July 21, at 1:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center – located one mile south of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The Induction Ceremony will be aired live on MLB Network and MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

Induction Weekend officially starts on Friday morning when Turn Two with Ozzie Smith – a Museum fundraiser – will be held. Smith, the Education Ambassador for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, will welcome fellow Hall of Famers Jim Kaat, Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen as his guests as fans get a unique chance to experience on-field moments and stories with Hall of Famers. Turn Two supports the Hall of Fame’s educational programs and internship scholarships.

On Saturday, July 20, the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 3 p.m. The Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting will be presented to Joe Castiglione and the late Gerry Fraley will be honored with the Baseball Writers’ Association of American Career Excellence Award.

Also on Saturday, and scheduled to start at 6 p.m., is the 13th annual Hall of Fame Parade of Legends to provide fans with more thrills. Hall of Famers will ride down Main Street en route to a private reception at the Museum.

Bill Francis is the senior research and writing specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum