Hall of Fame Weekend
Hall of Fame Weekend 2019 will take place July 19-22, with the Induction Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, July 21.
Harold Baines and Lee Smith, who were elected on Dec. 9 by the Today's Game Era Committee, will be joined in the Class of 2019 Baseball Writers' Association of America electees Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera.
At the July 20 Awards Presentation, Jayson Stark will be presented with the 2019 J.G. Taylor Spink Award for writers and the late Al Helfer will be honored with the 2019 Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters.
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MUSEUM MEMBER BENEFITS
A Museum Membership offers additional perks during Hall of Fame Weekend from free admission to the Museum to VIP reserved seats to the Induction Ceremony.
Hall of Fame Weekend Membership benefits include:
• Free admission to the Museum Hall of Fame Weekend and throughout the year
• A special members-only entrance to the Hall of Fame to avoid long lines
• Exclusive early access to the Museum on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Hall of Fame Weekend
• A complimentary copy of the Commemorative Hall of Fame Weekend Program
• Priority access to the Legends of the Game Roundtable program on Monday
• Reserved seating for the Induction (Contributor, President’s Circle and Benefactor Members)
Visiting Cooperstown
Thinking of joining us for Hall of Fame Weekend? Be part of history at the 2019 Hall of Fame Weekend, then discover the true legacy of our great game in the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s renowned Museum. Beyond the hallowed Hall is a wide variety of exhibits that tell the story of our National Pastime. For nearly 80 years, fans and families have enjoyed this exceptional collection of artifacts that honor the best of baseball, reminiscing, learning and making memories that last a lifetime along the way.
Plan Your Visit to Cooperstown
There's a lot for friends to see and do around town.
Weekend Events
Just as there's more to the Hall of Fame with the Museum, there's more to Hall of Fame Weekend than the Induction Ceremony. Plan an extended stay in Cooperstown to experience all four incredible days of fanfare.
From PLAY Ball with Museum Education Ambassador Ozzie Smith and Parade of Legends to special Awards Presentation and the Induction itself, Hall of Fame Weekend is filled with family-friendly fun.
In addition to all these activities, the weekend also includes special hours for the Museum:
• Friday, July 19: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Saturday, July 20: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sunday, July 21: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• Monday, July 22: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Doors open at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for Hall of Fame Members, and at 8 a.m. on Monday. As always, Hall of Fame Members receive free admission. A special Members’ only entrance eliminates the need to wait in line.
PLAY BALL WITH OZZIE SMITH
Friday 8 a.m.
Play on a dream team that could only come together in Cooperstown, with Ozzie Smith and Hall of Famer guests Trevor Hoffman, Jim Thome and Alan Trammell, hosting a morning experience featuring over two hours of non-stop interaction, including personalized instruction and the chance to turn double plays. This fundraising event is open to fans of all ages and space is limited. Event pricing is $750 for participants in the Museum’s Membership Program, $1,000 for non-Members. Interested participants can register by calling 607-547-0385.
CONVERSATIONS AT DOUBLEDAY FIELD
Saturday
Doubleday Field will play host to three “Voices of the Game” Hall of Fame programs on Saturday, July 20, from 12 noon to 2:45 p.m.
• 12 noon: MLB Network’s Brian Kenny hosts a conversation about our National Pastime with former Spink and Frick Award winners.
• 1 p.m.: The Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation presents a celebration of Hall of Famer Bob Feller and baseball’s commitment to the military.
• 2 p.m.: Mariners PA Announcer Tom Hutyler hosts a celebration of Edgar Martinez, featuring former Mariners players Jay Buhner, Alvin Davis, Jamie Moyer and Dan Wilson, Mariners Radio Broadcaster Rick Rizzs and Mariners Athletic Trainer Emeritus Rick Griffin.
These events are free and open to the public, with visitors seated along the first base seats of Doubleday Field. Please note, these are shine only events.
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Saturday 4:30 p.m.
The Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, at Doubleday Field and will feature the presentation of the 2019 J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing to Jayson Stark and posthumous honoring of 2019 Ford C. Frick Award winner Al Helfer.
PARADE OF LEGENDS
Saturday 6 p.m.
It’s the largest gathering of Hall of Famers on the baseball calendar. And for one evening every July, Main Street in Cooperstown becomes baseball’s biggest red carpet celebration during the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Parade of Legends.
Join the pageantry and excitement as the Hall of Famers ride in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company down Main Street at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, concluding with a red carpet arrival on the Museum steps.
INDUCTION CEREMONY
Sunday 1:30 p.m.
The Sunday, July 21, Induction Ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. on the grounds outside of the Clark Sports Center, which is located on lower Susquehanna Avenue, just one mile south of the Hall of Fame.
The Ceremony is held rain or shine, unless severe weather forces the cancellation of the event. Professional interpreters will be provided for the hearing impaired. The Induction Ceremony historically lasts two to three hours.
Lawn seating for the event is unlimited and free of charge. A blanket or lawn chair is recommended for comfortable viewing. As the weather in Cooperstown can be warm in July, it is recommended that visitors bring a cap and sunscreen.
Merchandise and Museum membership packages are available for purchase at the Induction site. Refreshments are sold at the site and water is provided complimentary to visitors. For information on reserved seating options granted to Museum members, please call 607-547-0397.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Access to the Induction Site closes at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, and re-opens at 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 21. Chairs and blankets can be left at the Induction Site during the day Saturday before 4 p.m. for Sunday, but no coolers, bags or large items will be permitted until the site re-opens on Sunday morning.
Three special paid parking lots will be available only on Sunday, July 21. These lots are located adjacent to the Blue Trolley Lot (paid lot is Cy Young Lot), on Route 33 just east of the Induction Site (paid lot is the Hank Aaron Lot) and on Route 33 south of the Induction Site (paid lot is the Babe Ruth Lot, which also includes shuttle service to the Induction Site).
Vehicular traffic on Susquehanna Avenue from Walnut Street to Bowerstown Bridge/County Route 52 and on Brooklyn Avenue will be limited to PERMIT/LOCAL TRAFFIC only beginning at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, until the end of the Induction Ceremony on Sunday, July 21.
Use of drones is not permitted in the area of the Clark Sports Center and Induction Site. All packages are subject to search. All items carried into the site should be in a clear, see-through style backpack/bag.
LEGENDS OF THE GAME ROUNDTABLE
Monday 10:30 a.m.
The Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 will participate in the Legends of the Game Roundtable event at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 22, on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. This event is for Members only and costs $10 for adults and $5 for juniors (under 12 years old). Tickets are available to members beginning Monday, June 10th, by calling 607-547-0397.
TRAVEL PACKAGES
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 Induction Weekend travel packages. For more information or to plan a trip to Cooperstown, please call 1-888-310-HALL (4255). Hall of Fame and Museum Members receive a 5% discount on all their baseball travel packages.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation information is available through This is Cooperstown, Cooperstown Getaway and through the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce at 607-547-9983. For driving directions from major cities, area cities and local airports, visit our directions page.
Future Dates
The next five Hall of Fame Weekends will be held on the dates below. The annual Induction Ceremony is held at 1:30 p.m. on the Sunday of Hall of Fame Weekend:
2019: Friday, July 19 – Monday, July 22
2020: Friday, July 24 – Monday, July 27 2020 Eligibles
2021: Friday, July 23 – Monday, July 26 2021 Eligibles
2022: Friday, July 22 – Monday, July 25 2022 Eligibles
2023: Friday, July 21 – Monday, July 24 2023 Eligibles
2018 Highlights
2018 WAS A BANNER YEAR
When all was said and done, the 2018 Induction Ceremony crowd – with its wild cheering and appreciative applause for the six electees – was one of the largest in the history of National Baseball Hall of Fame.
With their bronze plaques awaiting and immortality assured, switch-hitting third baseman Chipper Jones, slugging star Jim Thome, multi-talented outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, closer extraordinaire Trevor Hoffman, the ultimate competitor Jack Morris and legendary Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell gave their induction speeches in Cooperstown on the afternoon of Sunday, July 29, 2018.
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