Connections to Military Bring Hall of Famers, Stars to Cooperstown Memorial Day Weekend
Connections to Military Bring Hall of Famers, Stars to Cooperstown Memorial Day Weekend
2026-02-23
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The connection between the National Pastime and the military runs throughout United States’ history, and the bond between players and their commitment to service lasts a lifetime.
For Hall of Famers and players participating in the May 23 Hall of Fame Military Classic, that bond will be honored at the Memorial Day Weekend celebration in Cooperstown.
The Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice will feature direct and familial connections from the legends on the diamond at historic Doubleday Field.
Two players, Lt. Mitch Harris of the United States Navy and Lt. Chris Rowley of the United States Army, matriculated at their respective military academies before serving on active duty.
“Military service and baseball dreams built my story,” Harris said. “So when I was invited to be part of this game, it wasn’t even a question – it was a no-doubter. I’m honored to celebrate the game that gave me a platform and the service that gave me purpose. I’m proud to be an MLB alum, proud to be a Navy veteran and proud to be an American.”
Another Military Classic player, Zach Reks, attended the United States Air Force Academy before embarking on his big league career.
“Nearly 250 years ago, our founders signed a declaration of self-governance under a set of ideals – ideals which have since been embraced, perhaps more than most, by America’s armed services and its pastime,” Rowley said. “Being part of these communities has been one of the privileges of my life, and I am honored to celebrate the intersection of our shared histories and to honor the memories of our heroes.”
The Hall of Fame Military Classic will feature Hall of Famers:
Wade Boggs (whose father served in the Marines)
Rollie Fingers (who served in the Army Reserve)
Todd Helton (whose grandfather served in the military)
Fergie Jenkins (whose wife served in the military)
Tony La Russa (whose foundation has supported military charities)
Scott Rolen (whose father and brother-in-law served in the Navy)
Joe Torre (whose older brother, Rocco, served in the Navy during World War II)
Fueled by assistance from Major League Baseball, the Hall of Fame Military Classic rosters will feature additional players with connections to the military, including:
Jeremy Affeldt (father served in Air Force)
Nick Ahmed (father-in-law served in Coast Guard and grandfathers served in Army)
Jonny Gomes (board member of Troops Direct military support charity)
Danny Graves (whose father served in the Army in Vietnam, where Graves was born)
Edwin Jackson (wife served in Air Force and father served in the Army in Germany, where Jackson was born)
Ian Kennedy (brother-in-law served in Navy)
Jonathan Lucroy (worked to support military veterans throughout his career)
Josh Reddick (grandfather served in Air Force)
Todd Zeile (grandfather served in Air Force; Zeile is a longtime supporter of Sept. 11 tributes)
Brad Ziegler (who founded Pastime for Patriots, a foundation that provides game tickets to military families)
Additional participants will be announced this spring.
Also participating will be 1981 World Series champion Rick Monday, a U.S. Marine Reservist whose rescue of the American flag at Dodger Stadium in 1976 became a rallying point for the country during that bicentennial year. The flag Monday rescued will be on exhibit at the Hall of Fame from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
The Louisville Slugger Warriors amputee baseball team will have four representatives on the roster as well as head coach Curtis Pride, who overcame hearing loss en route to an 11-year career in the big leagues. The Louisville Slugger Warriors are a competitive amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. Military Veterans, Active Duty personnel, Wounded Warriors and current and former amputee college baseball players. They have suffered either loss of limb, partial limb, digits, eye and serious limb deformities. Others have prostheses due to congenital, disease, or trauma-related reasons.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Military Classic are on sale now online or at 1-888-325-0470 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Memorial Day Weekend in Cooperstown will also feature the Hall of Fame’s popular Night at the Ballpark program. Hall of Fame legends and former players will greet fans throughout Doubleday Field on Saturday, May 23, beginning at 6 p.m., with Hall of Famers participating alongside other former major league stars. While the Night at the Ballpark program is not an autograph session, fans should remember to bring their camera to capture their special memories.
Tickets for Night at the Ballpark are on sale now priced at $100 each and limited to 12 tickets per order. Click here to reserve tickets.
The Cooperstown Classic Clinic for children aged 7-12 will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at Doubleday Field. Hall of Fame Military Classic participants will lead the Clinic, with registration information available here.
Also as part of the weekend, guests can golf with legends at historic Leatherstocking Golf Course on Otsego Lake. Participants will enjoy an unforgettable day of golf. Individuals, pairs or foursomes of all skill levels are welcome to join the Hall of Fame Memorial Day Weekend Golf Tournament. A Hall of Fame member or former major leaguer will join each foursome and serve as the team captain.
A fundraiser for the Museum, the scramble-format tournament highlights a full lineup of activities for participants during this unforgettable weekend. For more information on supporting the Hall of Fame through this exclusive golf outing, please call 607-547-0310.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has teamed up with Sports Travel and Tours to offer baseball fans a one-stop opportunity to purchase Military Classic Weekend travel packages. For more information or to plan a trip to Cooperstown, please call 1-888-310-HALL (4255). Membership participants receive a 5% discount on all their baseball travel packages.
