Inductions of Bagwell, Raines, Rodríguez, Schuerholz and Selig Highlight Hall of Fame Weekend 2017, July 28-31
Class of 2017 Will Be Inducted in Less than Eight Weeks
(COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.) – It’s baseball’s best weekend, when the National Pastime’s legends celebrate the newest members of the game’s most exclusive club.
Welcome to Cooperstown, Class of 2017.
Hall of Fame Weekend is less than 60 days away, with new classics and old favorites throughout the event lineup as the game’s newest immortals take their bow July 28-31.
More than 50 Hall of Famers are scheduled to be in Cooperstown to honor the Class of 2017 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, will be held Sunday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Clark Sports Center – located one mile south of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Bagwell, Raines and Rodríguez were elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in January, bringing the total number of BBWAA electees in the last four years to 12 – the most in any four-year period since the first four elections in 1936-39. They’ll be joined on the Induction Stage by Today’s Game Era electees John Schuerholz and Bud Selig.
Bagwell played 15 big league seasons, all with the Astros. He posted eight seasons with at least 30 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI, tying him for eighth on that all-time list. Bagwell, who becomes the 50th Hall of Fame electee to have played for only one MLB team, is one of only 11 players in MLB history with at least 440 home runs and 200 stolen bases and the only first baseman with at least 400 home runs and 200 steals.
Raines, who was elected in his final year of BBWAA eligibility, is the only player in big league history with at least 100 triples, 150 home runs and 600 stolen bases. He is also the only player to record four different seasons with at least 50 extra-base hits and 70 steals, and only Raines stole 70 or more bases in six straight seasons (1981-86). His 808 total steals rank fifth on the all-time list.
Rodríguez, a first-ballot electee by the BBWAA, played in a record 2,427 games as a catcher during his 21-year big league career, and caught in 95.4 percent of the MLB games he played (2,427 of 2,543). Among players who appeared in at least 50 percent of their games at catcher, Rodríguez has the most hits (2,844), runs (1,354), doubles (572) and total bases (4,451). Rodríguez’s 13 Gold Glove Awards are the most of any catcher. He led his league in caught stealing percentage a record nine times, including a record six years in a row (1996-2001).
Schuerholz becomes the sixth Hall of Fame electee whose primary job function was team building (among non-owners). He laid the groundwork for the Royals 1985 World Series championship team as farm director and general manager, then moved to the Braves. As general manager, and later president and vice chairman in Atlanta, Schuerholz built a club that qualified for 14 consecutive postseasons, advanced to five World Series and won the crown in 1995. He was the first general manager to lead teams to World Series titles in both the American and National Leagues, and in 25 of his 26 seasons as a GM, Schuerholz’s teams finished in third place or better.
Selig was Major League Baseball’s ninth commissioner. His tenure started in 1992 as acting commissioner before he was named commissioner in 1998. Selig oversaw two rounds of expansion, the creation of Wild Card playoff teams and interleague play as well as the formation of the World Baseball Classic. MLB enjoyed uninterrupted labor peace for the final 20 full seasons of Selig’s tenure, which ended on Jan. 25, 2015. Selig, who is the fifth commissioner elected to the Hall of Fame, now serves as MLB’s commissioner emeritus.
The Induction Ceremony will be shown live on MLB Network, which has televised the event every year since its launch in 2009. The Induction Ceremony will also be shown via webcast at www.baseballhall.org.
The Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m. on July 29 at Doubleday Field and will feature the presentation of the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award to Rachel Robinson and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for writers to Claire Smith. On the same stage, the late Bill King will be honored with the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters. The Awards Presentation is free and open to the public.
Also on Saturday, July 29, the Hall of Fame Parade of Legends returns for the eighth year to provide fans with more thrills. Hall of Famers will ride down Main Street in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company en route to a private reception at the Museum during the 6 p.m. parade, with the staging for the Parade to take place at Doubleday Field, immediately following the Awards Presentation.
The Sunday, July 30 Induction Ceremony will take place on the grounds outside of the Clark Sports Center, which is located on lower Susquehanna Avenue, unless severe weather cancels the event. Follow the Hall of Fame on Twitter @baseballhall for the latest updates.
The site of the Induction Ceremony is located just one mile south of the Hall of Fame, and the short walk provides a picturesque view of the homes of Cooperstown. Please note that professional interpreters will be provided for the hearing impaired. The event will be held outdoors rain or shine, unless severe weather forces the cancellation of the Ceremony.
The Ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours. Seating for the event is unlimited and free of charge. A blanket or lawn chair is recommended for comfortable viewing. As the weather in Cooperstown can be warm in July, it is recommended that visitors bring a cap and sunscreen. Ball caps, Yearbooks and Museum memberships are available for purchase at the Induction site. Refreshments are sold at the site and water is provided complimentary to visitors.
Family activities scheduled throughout Hall of Fame Weekend 2017 include the following special events:
Hall of Fame Weekend Events
Friday, July 28
- 8 a.m. PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith & special guests Randy Johnson and Ryne Sandberg * Registration fee required
Saturday, July 29
- 4:30 p.m. Hall of Fame Awards Presentation, Doubleday Field
- 6 p.m. Hall of Fame Parade of Legends, Main Street
Sunday, July 30
- 1:30 p.m. Induction Ceremony, Clark Sports Center
Monday, July 31
- 10:30 a.m. Legends of the Game Roundtable, Doubleday Field, Featuring Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig
PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith – with special guests Randy Johnson and Ryne Sandberg: Ozzie Smith returns in a fundraiser to support the Hall of Fame’s educational mission with a unique opportunity for fans, featuring fellow Hall of Famers Randy Johnson, Ryne Sandberg and one additional Hall of Famer TBA. This two-hour event features non-stop interaction at each station with a living legend and includes special mementos. Space is limited. The donation is $875 per person, with Hall of Fame Members admitted for $675. To reserve your spot, please call 607-547-0310. 8 a.m., Friday.
Hall of Fame Parade of Legends: Join the pageantry and excitement as the Hall of Famers ride in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company down Main Street on their way to a private reception at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Fans are encouraged to attend the Awards Presentation prior to making their way to the Parade. Main Street, 6 p.m., Saturday.
Legends of the Game Roundtable: The Hall of Fame’s newest members, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Iván Rodríguez, John Schuerholz and Bud Selig, participate in the Legends of the Game Roundtable event at historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. This event is for Members only and costs $10 for adults and $5 for juniors (under 12 years old). Tickets are available to members beginning Monday, June 12 by calling 607.547.0397 Doubleday Field, 10:30 a.m., Monday.
Hall of Fame Members are afforded special opportunities throughout the Weekend. As a nonprofit institution, membership support advances the Museum’s commitment to preserve the National Pastime and aids in the preservation of artifacts and archival materials that document the rich history of America's game. Additionally, membership packages are wonderful and unique gifts for friends and family. Members enjoy many privileges, including free admission to the Hall of Fame year-round. To learn more about the program and its many benefits, please visit. www.baseballhall.org/join.
Additional Hall of Fame Weekend Privileges for Museum Members
• Free admission to the Museum throughout the year
• A special Members-only entrance to the Hall of Fame to avoid long lines
• Exclusive early access to the Museum on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
• VIP reserved seating for the Induction for Benefactor, President's Circle and Contributor Members
• Exclusive access to the Legends Roundtable event on Monday
• Transportation provided to and from the Museum for special Weekend events
The Museum maintains the following Hall of Fame Weekend hours: Friday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Plaque Gallery closes at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday); Sunday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Monday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Advance tickets are not necessary but are available by contacting the Hall of Fame at 888-425-5633 or by visiting www.baseballhall.org/visit. For Hall of Fame Members, doors open at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and at 8 a.m. on Monday. As always, Hall of Fame Members receive free admission. A special Members-only entrance eliminates the need to wait in line. Interested parties may enroll in the Membership program in advance or at the Museum.
Parking will be extremely limited in Cooperstown during Hall of Fame Weekend. As is the case throughout the summer, the village will make parking and trolley service available at three trolley lots in Cooperstown. The Cooperstown Trolley will provide transit to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field from three different locations: the Red Lot on Route 28 (Glen Avenue) at Maple Street; the Blue Lot on Route 28 just south of Cooperstown; and the Yellow Lot on Route 80 at the upper parking lot of the Fenimore Art Museum. All-day passes are available for $2 per adult and free for children 5 and under. The Trolley will operate throughout Hall of Fame Weekend daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Follow the trolley’s stops at www.followthetrolley.com.
If you need help with accommodations during your stay, please visit http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/lodging. For driving directions from major cities, area cities and local airports, visit the directions page at the Hall of Fame’s website for more information: www.baseballhall.org/visit/cooperstown.