From the Offices of the Hall of Fame: Inductions On Tap on Wednesday
From the offices of the Baseball Hall of Fame/Cooperstown, N.Y.
2021 INDUCTION CEREMONY: The 2021 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 1:30 p.m. ET on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown…Baseball Writers’ Association of America electees Derek Jeter and Larry Walker will join Modern Baseball Era electees Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons to be inducted as the Class of 2020…Admission to the ceremony on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center is free…MLB Network and MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM will carry the Induction Ceremony live…It will also be simulcast at MLB.com. 34
REALLY GOOD REASONS TO RETURN TO COOPERSTOWN: Thirty-four Hall of Famers, including the Class of 2020 (in boldface), are planning to return to Cooperstown for the Induction Ceremony:
Bert Blyleven
Ken Griffey Jr.
Pedro Martínez
Bud Selig
Dave Winfield
Wade Boggs
Rickey Henderson
Paul Molitor
Ted Simmons
Robin Yount
Rod Carew
Trevor Hoffmann
Jack Morris
Lee Smith
Orlando Cepeda
Reggie Jackson
Mike Mussina
John Smoltz
Dennis Eckersley
Fergie Jenkins
Cal Ripken
Frank Thomas
Rollie Fingers
Derek Jeter
Mariano Rivera
Joe Torre
Pat Gillick
Barry Larkin
Ryne Sandberg
Alan Trammell
Goose Gossage
Edgar Martinez
John Schuerholz
Larry Walker
BOOK NOW FOR FUTURE WEEKENDS: Hall of Fame Weekend is typically scheduled for the last weekend in July, though there are exceptions. A partial list of eligible first-time players for upcoming Hall of Fame elections includes:
2022: Prince Fielder, David Ortiz, Álex Rodríguez, Mark Teixeira
2023: Carlos Beltran, John Lackey, Francisco Rodríguez, Jayson Werth
2024: Adrían Beltré, Joe Mauer, Chase Utley, David Wright
2025: Brian McCann, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Troy Tulowitzki
2026: Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis, Daniel Murphy, Hunter Pence.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: The 2021 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will once again be held on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, located one mile south of the Museum on Susquehanna Avenue…This marks the 29 th year at that location for the event…From 1966-1991 (26 years) except 1967, the ceremony was held in Cooper Park, on the east side of the Museum…Ceremonies were originally held on Main Street in front of the main entrance to the Hall of Fame, from 1939-1965 and in 1967…Due to the COVID19 pandemic, no Induction Ceremony was held in 2020.
BY AIR: MLB Network will broadcast the Induction Ceremony from Cooperstown…The Induction Ceremony will be broadcast live exclusively on MLB Network, which has televised the event every year since its launch in 2009, on Wednesday, Sept. 8, from 1:30- 4:30 p.m. EDT…MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM will cover the ceremony nationwide….The ceremony will also be streamed live at MLB.com.
COME ALL: More than 40,000 fans have attended four of the past five Induction Ceremonies…In 2007, an estimated 82,000 fans packed Cooperstown, honoring the Hall of Fame induction of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn and setting a Hall of Fame Weekend attendance record…Following 2007, the top nine estimated crowds for Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies:
55,000 (2019)
53,000 (2018)
50,000 (1999 and 2016)
48,000 (2014)
45,000 (2015)
40,000 (1995)
27,500 (2017)
27,000 (2001 and 2005).
AWARDS PRESENTATION: The 2021 Awards Presentation was held on July 23…The Awards Presentation honored 2021 Ford C. Frick Award winner for broadcasting excellence, Al Michaels, and the 2020 Frick Award winner, Ken Harrelson; the 2021 Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award winner, Dick Kaegel, and the 2020 BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner, Nick Cafardo; and the 2020 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner, David Montgomery.
EXTENDED STAY: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open for extended hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8…Beginning Thursday, Sept. 9, the Museum will resume regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE: Transcripts from Wednesday’s Induction Ceremony will be available within five hours after the event at baseballhall.org/media-info.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be performed at the Induction Ceremony by four-time Yankees World Series champion Bernie Williams…Williams, an accomplished jazz guitarist, was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for his 2009 album Moving Forward… In 16 big league seasons – all with the Yankees – Williams was named to five All-Star Games and won four Gold Glove Awards for his play in center field.
A BIG LEAGUE THANK YOU: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum extends special thanks to the following organizations for their support of the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Canon USA, Clark Foundation, Clark Sports Center, CocaCola Bottling Company, Cooperstown Bat Company, Cooperstown Central School, Fernleigh Greenhouse, Jostens, Leatherstocking Corporation, Matthews International, MIDTEL, MLB Network, Otesaga Hotel and Resort, P & J Corporation, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Ronco, Sports Travel & Tours, Taylor, Village of Cooperstown.