Museum Celebrates ‘Homer at the Bat’ Episode of THE SIMPSONS, May 27 in Cooperstown at Hall of Fame Classic

Roundtable Discussion, Exhibit Opening to Take Place on May 27 in Cooperstown; First 4,500 fans in attendance at the Classic receive Homer Simpson Rally Towel

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will pay tribute to Homer Simpson and the “Homer at the Bat” episode of FOX’s THE SIMPSONS on Saturday, May 27 during Hall of Fame Classic Weekend – and fans attending the Classic will have the chance to take home a unique piece of history representing the long-running FOX series.

In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the episode originally aired on FOX on Feb. 20, 1992, fans can celebrate America’s favorite animated family – and Americana at its best – prior to the annual legends game at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Events will include the “induction” of Homer Simpson into the Hall of Fame, and the first 4,500 fans in attendance at the Classic that afternoon will receive a rally towel featuring original artwork of Homer Simpson wearing a Hall of Fame baseball uniform.

Tickets are required for the 2017 Hall of Fame Classic game. Hall of Fame Classic tickets are $12.50 for first and third base seats and $11 for general admission outfield seats. Tickets are available at 1-877-726-9028 or at www.baseballhall.org.

“Truly an honor for me to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame,” Homer Simpson said. “My record for eating hot dogs will never be broken. I've been a fan for 40 years, which is how long some games take. And I can't wait for the ceremony in Canton, Ohio.” (Homer will actually be honored in Cooperstown, the home of baseball.)

Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Ozzie Smith – along with five-time All-Star Steve Sax – who were all portrayed in the unforgettable episode that featured Homer Simpson winning the championship softball game for the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant with a walk-off hit-by-pitch, will join in a roundtable discussion beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, outside the Library entrance to the Hall of Fame in Cooper Park. The discussion, which is free and open to the public, will feature the episode’s executive producer Al Jean, along with producer Mike Reiss, director Jim Reardon, executive story editor Jeff Martin and casting director Bonnie Pietila.

The episode will be shown in its entirety on an outdoor screen at 9 a.m. prior to the roundtable discussion. The roundtable discussion will conclude with Homer’s “induction” to the Hall of Fame, which will include his on-screen acceptance speech.

Following the roundtable event, a SIMPSONS-themed exhibit case will open to the public in the Museum at noon. THE SIMPSONS will also be honored prior to the Hall of Fame Classic taking place that afternoon at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field.

The traditional Hall of Fame Classic Home Run Derby will be held at noon at Doubleday Field as a lead-in to the ninth annual Hall of Fame Classic, a seven-inning legends game at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field featuring Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Juan Marichal, Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith as coaches and managers along with recently retired players representing all 30 major league teams. The 2017 Hall of Fame Classic, presented by Ford Motor Company and fueled with assistance from Major League Baseball, highlights a weekend of family entertainment programs designed to celebrate the timeless connection of baseball across generations.

In “Homer at the Bat,” Hall of Famers Smith, Boggs and Ken Griffey Jr. were three of the nine “ringers” brought in by the owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, C. Montgomery Burns, to ensure his team’s victory. But almost all of the stars were fated not to play, each having suffered a separate and unique misfortune leading up to the game. The voices of the actual players were used in the episode.

THE SIMPSONS airs at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Sundays on FOX.

THE SIMPSONS-themed events of Saturday, May 27 are outlined below:

9 a.m. “Homer at the Bat” episode shown (Cooper Park)

9:30 a.m. Roundtable discussion, free and open to the public, featuring Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Wade Boggs,
as well as Steve Sax, and THE SIMPSONS Executive Producer Al Jean, along with Mike Reiss,
Jim Reardon, Jeff Martin, and Bonnie Pietila (Cooper Park)

10:30 a.m. Homer Simpson’s “induction” into the Hall of Fame

11:00 a.m. Gates open for Hall of Fame Classic game (Doubleday Field)
The first 4,500 fans entering the ballpark will receive a Homer Simpson Rally Towel; For tickets, call 1-877-726-9028 or visit www.baseballhall.org

12:00 p.m. THE SIMPSONS exhibit case debuts to the public (Baseball Hall of Fame Library area)

12:50 p.m. THE SIMPSONS honored during pregame ceremonies (Doubleday Field)

1:05 p.m. Hall of Fame Classic begins (Doubleday Field)
Homer Simpson and his Hall of Fame “plaque” on display for photos (Doubleday Field)