Hall of Famer Fred McGriff Returns to Cooperstown to Host Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational Sept. 9

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Returning to Cooperstown as a Hall of Famer for the 2024 Induction Ceremony, Fred McGriff flashed the brilliant smile befitting one of the legends of the game.

In September, McGriff will visit Cooperstown again – this time sharing smiles with some new friends in Central New York.

McGriff, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023, will serve as the celebrity host for the Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational Sept. 9 at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown.  As the master of ceremonies, McGriff – who hit 493 home runs during his 19-year big league career – will be featured as the guest speaker at that evening’s fundraiser dinner.

The Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational will begin with a 12 p.m. shotgun start and features a chance to win team prizes worth more than $6,500, with amateur foursomes playing a two-best ball round on one of the Northeast's most storied courses.

For more information on the Golf Invitational or to register to play, please click here.

Proceeds from this event benefit Pathfinder Village located in nearby Edmeston, a residential community dedicated to children and adults with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Golf events have been the major source for scholarship funds for Pathfinder residents and students since 1982 and directly help the Village’s 90-plus residents and students. More than $2.7 million has been raised for Pathfinder Village through the years.

Proceeds also benefit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum educational programs, which enable the world-famous nonprofit institution to fulfill its educational mission and care for its priceless collections.

The tradition of a Hall of Famer as the master of ceremonies began in 2004 and includes: 2023: Rollie Fingers; 2022: Jim Kaat; 2021: Fergie Jenkins; 2020: No event held due to pandemic; 2019: Lee Smith; 2018: Carlton Fisk; 2017: Tim Raines; 2016: Rollie Fingers; 2015: Ryne Sandberg; 2014: Bobby Cox; 2013: Rollie Fingers; 2012: Fergie Jenkins; 2011: Johnny Bench; 2010: Jim Rice; 2009: Mike Schmidt; 2008: Harmon Killebrew; 2007: Mike Schmidt; 2006: Robin Roberts; 2005: Carlton Fisk; 2004: Phil Niekro.

This event continues a decades-long tradition of the Otesaga Resort Hotel supporting the Pathfinder Village Scholarship Fund and the Hall of Fame's Education Programs. Located on the shores of beautiful Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, the Otesaga Resort Hotel has been selected as a “Historic Hotel of America” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Overlooking picturesque Otsego Lake, the Otesaga Hotel’s Leatherstocking Golf Course is considered one of the East’s most scenic and historic par-72 layouts. Designed by the legendary Devereux Emmet in 1909, Leatherstocking has been rated “four stars” by Golf Digest’s “Places to Play.”

The presenting sponsor for the 2024 event is NBT Bank, and the corporate sponsor is Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast.