52 Hall of Fame Legends to be in Cooperstown For Hall of Fame Weekend
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The eyes of the baseball world will be focused on Cooperstown in a little more than two weeks, with the legends of the game in town to see history unfold during Hall of Fame Weekend.
Fifty past-inducted Hall of Fame members are expected to return, July 21-24, to celebrate the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023. As of July 10, 52 total Hall of Famers, including 2023 inductees Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, are scheduled to be a part of Hall of Fame Weekend festivities in Cooperstown.
The Class of 2023 will be inducted on Sunday, July 23, with the Induction Ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. The 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air live on MLB Network, which has televised every Induction Ceremony since its launch in 2009.
On Saturday, July 22, the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 3 p.m. as a private event, with a simulcast at Doubleday Field. Carl Erskine will be honored with the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, Cubs voice Pat Hughes will receive the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting and John Lowe will receive the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Career Excellence Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.
Admission to both the July 22 Awards Presentation simulcast and the July 23 Induction Ceremony is free.
As of July 10, the Hall of Fame members expected to return to Cooperstown to honor the Class of 2023 include: Jeff Bagwell, Harold Baines, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Bert Blyleven, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Rod Carew, Orlando Cepeda, Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers, Pat Gillick, Goose Gossage, Ken Griffey Jr., Rickey Henderson, Whitey Herzog, Trevor Hoffman, Fergie Jenkins, Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson, Chipper Jones, Jim Kaat, Tony La Russa, Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, Juan Marichal, Fred McGriff, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Eddie Murray, Mike Mussina, Tony Oliva, David Ortiz, Tony Pérez, Tim Raines, Jim Rice, Cal Ripken, Scott Rolen, Ryne Sandberg, John Schuerholz, Bud Selig, Ted Simmons, Lee Smith, Ozzie Smith, Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, Joe Torre, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker, Billy Williams, Dave Winfield, Robin Yount.
The Induction Ceremony will be held on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on July 23, unless severe weather forces the event cancellation. Lawn seating is free and the Ceremony is expected to last two hours. The Ceremony will be televised live on MLB Network and broadcast nationally on Sirius XM Radio.
The Awards Presentation on Saturday, July 22 will last one hour, and the simulcast is free of charge and open to the public at Doubleday Field. Later in the day, the Hall of Famers and Award winners will stage the Parade of Legends, in a ride down Main Street.
The complete schedule for Hall of Fame Weekend includes:
Friday, July 21
Ozzie Smith’s Turn Two Museum fundraiser will be held at 8 a.m. The annual fundraiser for the Museum’s educational programs gives fans a unique opportunity to experience on-field moments and share stories with Ozzie, Hall of Fame teammates Eddie Murray, Larry Walker and Dave Winfield. The event begins with an exclusive morning reception in the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery, then moves to historic Doubleday Field for interactive stories, instruction and fun. To register, please call 607-547-0385.
Saturday, July 22
The Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will take place at 3 p.m. as a private event, with a simulcast at Doubleday Field. Carl Erskine will be honored with the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, Cubs voice Pat Hughes will receive the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting and John Lowe will receive the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Career Excellence Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.
The Hall of Fame Parade of Legends will begin at 6 p.m. along Main Street. Hall of Fame members will participate in the parade, which will originate on Lake Street and conclude at the front steps of the Museum on Main Street. Hall of Famers will ride to a private reception at the Museum.
Sunday, July 23
The annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, located one mile south of the Hall of Fame. Baseball Writers’ Association of America electee Scott Rolen will be honored alongside Contemporary Baseball Player Era Committee electee Fred McGriff on stage in front of about four dozen returning Hall of Famers. Admission to the Ceremony on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center is free.
Monday, July 24
Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen will be featured in a Legends of the Game Roundtable program, hosted by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, at 10:30 a.m. at historic Doubleday Field as they reminisce about their careers and induction into the Hall of Fame. Tickets are currently available to participants in the Hall of Fame’s Membership Program at 607-547-0397 and are $10 for adults, $5 for children.
Hall of Fame Members receive free admission to the Museum year-round, and membership information is available at baseballhall.org/join. Museum members also receive a host of benefits, including a subscription to the bi-monthly magazine, Memories and Dreams, an annual copy of the Hall of Fame Yearbook, 10 percent off retail store purchases, plus free shipping, and more.
Join MLB Youth Ambassador Coach Ballgame for special PLAY BALL events on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, at Doubleday Field. Advance registration for this free event is requested. For more information, visit baseballhall.org/events.