[The Hall of Fame] is a place of grace and class…You arrive expecting to tour baseball’s past. What you discover is your own…It is pictures of places you’ve never been and belongings of people you’ve never met. Yet you are drawn to its scuffed baseballs and gritty photographs as if they were your own. And in a way, they are.
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Museum Facts
Located on Main Street in the heart of picturesque Cooperstown, New York, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the country's most popular destinations and is surely the best-known sports shrine in the world. Standing as a three-story red brick building on Main Street in the center of Cooperstown, the Museum opened its doors for the first time on June 12, 1939. The Hall of Fame has stood as the definitive repository of the game's treasures and as a symbol of the most profound individual honor bestowed on an athlete. It is every fan's "Field of Dreams" with its stories, legends and magic to be passed on from generation to generation. The Baseball Hall of Fame’s mission is to preserve history, honor excellence and connect generations.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an independent, non-profit educational institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of Baseball and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections for a global audience as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to our National Pastime. Open daily, year round (except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day), the Museum’s summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. Admission prices are $28 for adults (13 and over), $22 for seniors (65 and over) and $17 for juniors (ages 7-12). Those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans American Legion or AMVets organizations are admitted for $19. Hall of Fame members, active or retired card-carrying military personnel and children under six years of age are admitted free. Group rates are also available. The Museum is handicap accessible and video programs are captioned for the hearing impaired.
Plaque Gallery
The Hall of Fame Gallery serves as the centerpiece of the historic institution, where the plaques of all 340 Hall of Fame members line the oak walls. Only 240 former major leaguers - one percent of those to have played baseball in the major leagues - have earned a spot in the Hall of Fame. The 2023 inductees – Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen – will each have a plaque added to the Gallery during Hall of Fame Weekend.
Museum Store
The Museum Store resides on the first floor. Visit the Store for unique gifts, keepsakes and clothing apparel for the baseball fans in your life. While there, sign up at one of the Museum kiosks to receive a merchandise catalog; Inside Pitch, the Hall of Fame’s free weekly e-mail newsletter; and a trial subscription of Memories and Dreams, the Hall of Fame’s bi-monthly magazine.
Museum Bookstore
The Museum Bookstore, located in the Library Atrium, carries a wide variety of books and videos on a variety of baseball subjects, available for purchase. For the numerous book signings that take place in the Library Atrium year-round, books are available for purchase from this location.
Hall of Fame Library
The Hall of Fame Library, which houses in excess of three million documents, including a file on every player to appear in a major league game, 250,000 photographs and 14,000 hours of recorded film, video and sound. A public research area is a great place to spend the afternoon, for those wishing to delve deeper into Baseball’s history. The Library also includes exhibits, such as Scribes and Mikemen and Baseball at the Movies, the Sandlot Kids’ Clubhouse, and the Bullpen Theater.
Giamatti Research Center
The A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center, housed in the Library, facilitates approximately 60,000 research inquiries from around the world each year. A public facility where numerous researchers and Museum visitors are served annually, the research staff answers questions ranging from students working on a report to fielding a request from The White House for information for a presidential speech. While the majority of patrons are independent baseball fans conducting research, others using the facilities have included such noted authors as George Plimpton, Roger Kahn, and George Will; officials from numerous major and minor league clubs; former major league players; writers from The New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal; television shows such as Jeopardy; and students of all ages.
The Research Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the exception of holidays, the winter months and special events. Appointments are encouraged. To schedule an appointment, or for more information, please call 607-547-0330 or write to research@baseballhall.org.
Renovations
A Three-Year, $20-Million Renovation of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was formally completed with a rededication ceremony on July 29, 2005. Thirty-eight Hall of Fame members were present to cut the ribbon. The project marked the Museum’s seventh building renovation effort since the opening of its doors for the first time on June 12, 1939. Previous projects in 1950, 1958, 1968, 1980, 1989 and 1994 added exhibit space, the Hall of Fame Gallery, the Hall of Fame Library and the Museum Store, and connected them all. The most recent renovation offers visitors: a completely new look and feel; 14 exhibit and program spaces; 10,000 additional square feet of exhibit space; more accessibility for those with special needs; more interactive technology; a more consistent environment for the collections; and a seamless traffic pattern for visitors to enjoy. Museum floorplans are available here.
Museum Experience
Visitors will enter the Baseball Time Line, beginning with the exhibit, Taking the Field: The 19th Century, the first installment of baseball history, which features more than 180 items from baseball’s formative beginnings. Featuring multimedia and engaging interpretation of baseball’s early years, the exhibit sets the table for exploration of baseball’s history by generation. Visitors then are led into the 20th Century Baseball Time Line, detailing baseball’s notable players, legendary teams and historic moments through the 2000 season. Babe Ruth: His Life and Legend honors the game’s most recognizable star. Other exhibits of note in the Timeline: Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball, a newly redesigned salute to the roles women to have played at every level of baseball; Ideals and Injustices: A Chronicle of Black Baseball, an interactive exhibit detailing the history of African Americans in baseball, from Civil War times through the major league integration of players, managers and executives; and ¡Viva Baseball!, an exhibit dedicated to baseball in the Caribbean Basin countries.
Baseball at the Movies
Baseball at the Movies explores the long-standing relationship between baseball and the movies. Scribes and Mikemen honors the greatest journalists to broadcast and write about the National Pastime, housing the award winners for the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually for broadcasting excellence, and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, presented annually for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.
Sacred Ground
Sacred Ground: welcomes visitors to the third floor of the Museum, examining ballparks of the past and present through more than 200 artifacts and numerous displays in 1,800 square feet of exhibit space. Among the most notable artifacts in the exhibit: a scoreboard “pinwheel” from Comiskey Park; a ticket booth from Yankee Stadium; a turnstile from the Polo Grounds; a cornerstone from Ebbets Field; Walter Johnson’s locker from Griffith Stadium; and the on-deck circle from Forbes Field. The exhibit also includes a special interactive section dedicated to music at the ballpark, where visitors can hear the distinctive sounds from various ballparks and learn the history of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” A computer interactive guides visitors on a “walk-through” of Boston’s South End Grounds Grand Pavilion, in existence from 1888-1894) via a 14’ x 8’ curved screen.
When the crack of the bat brings a thrill to your soul, and you’re longing for the summer memories of your youth, melting the winter snows, it is time to plan a pilgrimage to the best place on Earth to fully satisfy your love of the game…the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream
Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream is an exhibit that chronicles Aaron’s life, from childhood through his big league career and post-baseball career, including his vast philanthropic efforts; as well as features artifacts from several of the unique achievements in baseball history.
Autumn Glory
Autumn Glory: 100 Years of the Postseason spotlights moments from every memorable World Series. Artifacts range from the baseball used for the final out of the inaugural Fall Classic’s in 1903 to the bats used by Bill Mazeroski and Joe Carter to hit dramatic home runs, to artifacts from the most recent World Series Champions.
One for the Books
One for the Books features 1,537 square feet of exhibit space includes sections focusing on batting, pitching, fielding, base running and team records. In addition to the artifacts, the exhibit includes in-case motion picture presentations, interactive trivia stations and the Digital Top 10 Tower.
It died a hero. Any pieces, anything that I've used that gets into the Hall of Fame is a thrill.
Museum Membership
Membership is an integral part of the Hall of Fame and those enrolled in the membership program enjoy many benefits while assisting us in furthering our mission. There are membership levels for children, families and adults. Members receive complimentary admission to the Hall of Fame and Museum, a personalized membership card, a subscription to Memories and Dreams, the Hall of Fame’s bi-monthly magazine, free domestic shipping and 10% discount on purchases from the Museum Store in Cooperstown and at shop.baseballhall.org, and exclusive member-only events throughout the year and more.
Hall of Fame Membership
There is no simpler, and more essential, way to demonstrate your support than to sign on as a Museum Member.
Memories and Dreams
Memories and Dreams is the official bi-monthly magazine of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Available exclusively to Museum members, Memories and Dreams features in-depth profiles on Hall of Fame members, trends in the baseball world, scores of original photos from the Library collection, original art, insightful writing and the latest news and notes from Cooperstown. The annual Hall of Fame Yearbook offers bios, photographs and statistics of all Hall of Fame members, along with profiles of the newest inductees. Free to all participants in the Hall of Fame membership program, the Yearbook retails for $10.
Inside Pitch
Inside Pitch delivers a free weekly newsletter via e-mail to baseball fans at work or home throughout the year, to keep you connected to Cooperstown. Featuring a weekly history lesson, Inside Pitch brings home baseball anniversaries, important news from the Museum and exclusive gift opportunities.
Hall of Fame Weekend
Future Hall of Fame Weekends are scheduled to be held over the last Sunday in July in most years, but not always. The 2023 Induction Weekend will be held July 21-24, with the Induction Ceremony on July 23. A partial list of eligible first-time players for upcoming Hall of Fame elections includes: 2024: Adrían Beltré, Joe Mauer, Chase Utley, David Wright; 2025: Brian McCann, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Troy Tulowitzki; 2026: Ryan Braun, Edwin Encarnación, Matt Kemp, Nick Markakis; 2027: Jay Bruce, Jon Lester, Buster Posey, Kyle Seager; 2028: Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols. For complete details, visit our Future Eligibles page.
Come One, Come All
In 2007, an estimated 82,000 fans packed Cooperstown, honoring the Hall of Fame induction of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn and setting a Hall of Fame Weekend attendance record…Following 2007, the next largest estimated crowds for Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies: 55,000 (2019); 53,000 (2018); 50,000 (1999); 50,000 2016; 48,000 (2014); 45,000 (2015); 40,000 (1995); 35,000 (2022); 27,500 (2017); 27,000 (2001 and 2005); and 25,000 (2000).
Contact Us
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone: (607) 547-7200
Toll-free: (888) HALL-OF-FAME or (888) 425-5633
Email: info@baseballhall.org