Hall of Fame Inductees Exhibit for Class of 2022 on Display in Cooperstown
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – In just a few short weeks, seven new Hall of Famers will be enshrined in Cooperstown. But for many of them, their careers are already represented through artifacts in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Many of those artifacts will go on display with the opening of the Museum’s 2022 Inductees Exhibit, commemorating the careers of Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, Tony Oliva, Buck O’Neil and David Ortiz. The exhibit is now open on the Museum’s third floor and will remain on display until spring of 2023.
Among the artifacts highlighting the Class of 2022:
• A map representing some of the many cities and towns Bud Fowler played in along his stops with over 60 different teams.
• The bat used by Gil Hodges to hit the first home run in New York Mets franchise history in the fourth inning of an Opening Day game on April 11, 1962.
• The first of 16 straight Gold Glove Awards Jim Kaat won for his fielding prowess in 1962.
• The jersey worn by Minnie Miñoso in 1980 when he appeared for the White Sox in his fifth decade of play in the American League.
• Tony Oliva’s American League Championship ring, which he earned after leading the Minnesota Twins to the pennant in 1965.
• The Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, where a community member who reflects O’Neil’s values is selected for each game to enjoy a game from the seat of the baseball icon.
• The ball David Ortiz hit for his first of 541 career home runs.
Admission to the Museum’s Inductees Exhibit is included with regular Museum admission.
The 2022 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. ET on July 24 on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown and will be shown live exclusively on MLB Network. More than 50 Hall of Famers are expected to attend to honor the Class of 2022. Admission to the Induction Ceremony is free.