BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
The annual Hall of Fame Classic is no longer going to be just about a baseball outing with dad. Live entertainment, educational programs and much more will be added to this year’s festivities.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame is teaming with the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce and the village of Cooperstown to provide a more community festival-likeatmosphere for not only those who travel to Cooperstown, but to entice the village residents to come out and about that weekend as well.
With the new goal, the one-day Father’s Day event will be transformed into a weekend experience called the Cooperstown Classic Fest. Festivities will take place June 17-19.
“In launching the Hall of Fame Classic two years ago, our premise was to provide a fan-friendly experience for fans to see their baseball legends come to life on one of the most historic grounds in all of baseball history at Doubleday Field,” Jeff Idelson, HOF president, said when first announcing the event.
“The feedback in the first two years has been nothing short of dynamic –from the more than 7,000 fans each year who have witnessed the Classic, to the players who are rediscovering their love of the game all over again, to the Cooperstown community, which embraces baseball heroes unlike anyone else.”
Idelson said he believe the new additions to the 2011 calendar will benefit everyone and keep the Classic on the national landscape for many years to come. He said the best part about it is a lot of the entertainment is provided for free.
“Hopefully this will provide the first pitch to summer tourism, providing a festival environment for fans throughout the region and across the globe to celebrate the start of the summer season” Idelson said.
“We want to offer reason’s beyond baseball to those who reside here,” he continued.
On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Doubleday Field parking lot will feature local vendors, live entertainment, food, exhibitors from area businesses and family activities.
According to a HOF press release, more than 30 area business plan to participate.
Next door at Doubleday Field, the Hall of Fame will educate and entertain fans with programs for all ages from 12:30 to 4 p.m. According to the release, visitors will get hands-on experiences and be able to partake in interactive programs featuring former major leaguers. The Legends for Youth Skills Clinic will lead off the Hall of Fame’s public programs at 9 a.m. Advanced registration is required.
Saturday will also serve as “Price Chopper Day” at the Hall of Fame and Museum, as all AdvantEdge card holders will be admitted to the museum free of charge, all day long.
The Hall of Fame Classic, a seveninning legends game featuring Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Goose Gossage, Phil Niekro, Tony Pérez, Jim Rice, Ozzie Smith and Dick Williams, will be held at Doubleday Field at 2 p.m. Tickets remain for the Hall of Fame Classic and can be purchased at baseballhall.org or by calling 1 (866) 849-7770. Tickets are $12.50 for first and third base seats and $11 for outfield seats.
The Cooperstown Game Day Parade will lead off events scheduled for Sunday. The parade will begin at noon down Main Street, all of the baseball legends riding in trolleys to Doubleday Field. A hitting contest will be held at 1 p.m. The Classic, which has been presented by Ford Motor Co. since its inception, will be held at 2 p.m. at DoubledayField.
The Classic is co-organized by the HOF and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. Among the former big league players scheduled to participate in the Classic are Frank Catalanotto, Dave Fleming, Doug Glanville, Dave Henderson, Bill Lee, Dale Murphy, Billy Sample, Reggie Sanders, Willie Wilson, Rick Wise and Dmitri Young.
The entire slate of programs for the 2011 Classic Weekend and ticket availability information is listed below: June 17-18:
•Cooperstown Golf Classic −An exclusive golf opportunity with Hall of Fame members, in a fundraiser for the museum. Golf with legends, enjoy a private reception in the Hall of Fame Gallery and experiencethe camaraderie of the game’s legends. Limited opportunity to 28 participants. For pricing and to reserve a spot, call 547-0310.
Saturday, June 18:
• Classic Fest - presented by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, the village of Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Doubleday Parking Lot, 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Visitors will experience the best of Cooperstown and the summer season, with fare from local vendors, live entertainment and more.
Activities at Doubleday Field, hosted by the Hall of Fame, include:
• Legends for Youth Skills Clinic, 8 a.m. to noon. Youth ages 6-12 can participate in a skills clinic led by former major league stars. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information, call 547-0397.
• Hall of Fame Showcase, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. A familyfun environment, complete with art activities, hands-onstations for baseball fans of all ages, special appearances and programs by former major league stars, educational presentations, and much more. Activities and special guests from the Baseball Hall of Fame’s education programs. Admission is free.
• Hall of Fame Member Photo, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Enjoy this exclusive opportunity to have your photo taken with Hall of Fame members at Doubleday Field, in this fundraiser for the museum. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 547-0397.
• Voices of the Game, 6 to 7 p.m. Hall of Fame members in attendance will share their experiences and stories in a moderated, one-hour program. Fans can catch a glimpse of their favorite Hall of Famer through a presentation on the field of legends, featuring a question and answer session from fans.
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, call 547-0397.
Saturday, June 18: Price Chopper Day at the Hall of Fame − AdvantEdge card holders receive free admission to the museum all day.
The museum is open 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 19: Hall of Fame Game Day Parade- At noon come watch as the Hall of Fame members and former major league stars make their way down Main Street in Cooperstown en route to Doubleday Field. Parade begins at the corner between Main and Fair streets.
Sunday, June 19: Third annual Hall of Fame Classic,Presented by Ford Motor Co., Doubleday Field, 1 p.m. − Join the fun of the third annual Classic Hitting Contest, starting at 1 p.m. and a seven-inning legends Game, beginning at 2 p.m. Hall of Famers and 20 other former major league stars will compete in an afternoon of fun. Tickets required.
For more information, visit www.baseballhall.org
Local News
Related Photos
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ANDRE DAWSON, WHO WAS inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum last year, will join the Hall of Fame Classic lineup. The seven-inning legends game will be played at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
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Classic is no longer just a game
Festivities planned all weekend
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