Hall of Famers Turn Two in Cooperstown in Support of Museum’s Educational Mission

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – A year ago, Joe Mauer was soaking in what it means to be a Hall of Famer following his Cooperstown induction.

On Friday, he enjoyed a new status: Hall of Fame Weekend veteran.

Mauer helped open Hall of Fame Weekend 2025 as one of four Hall of Famer guests at Ozzie Smith’s Turn Two event at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field. The three-time American League batting champion joined Tony La Russa, Tony Oliva and Jim Thome for Turn Two, which is a fundraiser that support’s the Museum’s education programs.

“Ozzie mentioned Turn Two last year at the induction and I said: ‘Oh, absolutely, I’d love to come out and help in any way that I can,’” Mauer said. “It’s just good to be back in Cooperstown where everybody is excited about baseball and is talking baseball. It’s going to be a fun weekend.”

Thirty-eight Museum supporters participated in Turn Two, which has raised more than $310,000 in its 22 years. In addition to supporting the Hall of Fame’s educational initiatives, Turn Two also raises funds for diversity scholarships for the Hall of Fame’s Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development.

The Hall of Famers shared stories and playing secrets with the Turn Two participants on the Doubleday Field infield at the annual opening event of Hall of Fame Weekend.

“Every year I try to bring different guys and it’s a way for these guys to remain a part of the game and say thank you to the fans that have supported them through the years,” said Smith, a 2002 Hall of Fame inductee who has been the Museum’s Education Ambassador for more than two decades. “It’s a nice way to get the weekend started and I think they’re having fun, they are all still smiling.

“This is baseball heaven.”

Hall of Fame Weekend 2025 runs through Monday in Cooperstown. The Class of 2025, featuring Dick Allen, Dave Parker, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner, will be inducted at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. Admission to the Induction Ceremony is free.

The 2025 Induction Ceremony will be televised live exclusively on MLB Network. The Induction Ceremony will also be available via a webcast at mlb.com.

The Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, at Cooperstown’s Alice Busch Opera Theater. Thomas Boswell will be honored with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award and Tom Hamilton will receive the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.

Also on Saturday, July 26, the Hall of Fame Parade of Legends returns to provide fans with more thrills. Hall of Famers will ride down Main Street in trucks en route to a private reception at the Museum during the 6 p.m. event.

The Museum maintains the following Hall of Fame Weekend hours: Saturday, July 26: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, July 27: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; and Monday, July 28: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. For Hall of Fame Members, doors open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. As always, Hall of Fame Members receive free admission. Interested parties may enroll in the Membership Program in advance at baseballhall.org/join or at the Museum.

Follow all the action during Hall of Fame Weekend with the #HOFWKND hashtag on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.