Salute to History Highlights Fan Experience at Military Classic Weekend
Salute to History Highlights Fan Experience at Military Classic Weekend
2026-02-19
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – A red, white and blue salute to the military will greet fans at the Hall of Fame Military Classic on Memorial Day Weekend in Cooperstown.
Historic Doubleday Field will play host to the Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice on Saturday, May 23. The seven-inning legends game will feature Hall of Fame managers and coaches along with recently retired MLB players in honor of baseball’s longtime connection to the military.
American flags will be given to the first 2,500 fans in attendance, with a 75-foot by 150-foot field-sized flag on display as part of the pregame festivities. Also on display will be banners from the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation honoring Hall of Famers who served during World War II.
As part of the celebration, award-winning announcer Gary Thorne, who served with the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps in the 1970s, will lend his voice to the day as the public address announcer. Thorne served as the emcee of the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on eight occasions.
In addition to food and beverage options from local food trucks, fans at the Hall of Fame Military Classic will also be treated to music and giveaways, including a free commemorative program. Children 12-and-under can Race Around the Bases following the game.
The Hall of Fame Military Classic will feature Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Scott Rolen and Joe Torre along with more than two dozen former big leaguers and include a pregame home run hitting contest.
Fueled by assistance from Major League Baseball, the Hall of Fame Military Classic rosters will feature Nick Ahmed, Jonny Gomes, Danny Graves, Ian Kennedy, Jonathan Lucroy, Josh Reddick, Todd Zeile and Brad Ziegler, with more players announced this spring.
Also participating will be 1981 World Series champion Rick Monday, 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.
