In just a couple of weeks, all
eyes of the baseball world will
once again turn to Cooperstown
for Hall of Fame Weekend 2009.
A full slate of family events, baseball
entertainment, and exclusive
opportunities complements the
weekend, which is July 24-27.
As of July 2, 49 Hall of Fame
members are scheduled to return
to honor the Class of 2009 at the
National Baseball Hall of Fame
and Museum, including former
Boston red Sox slugger Carl Yastrzemski,
who hasn’t been to an
induction since 2000.
Yaz, as he was called during
his playing days, will be in Cooperstown
to support one of his
former teammates, Jim Rice, one
of this year’s inductees.
Rice replaced Yaz in left field,
and Yastrzemski had replaced
the legendary Ted Williams.
Rice’s election gave the Red Sox
three straight Hall of Fame left
fielders.
The annual Induction Ceremony
will be held Sunday, July 26,
at 1:30 p.m. at the Clark Sports
Center, located about a mile from
the Museum.
Two electees emerged from the
Baseball Writers’ Association of
America vote in January û alltime
runs and stolen bases king
Rickey Henderson, and longtime
Red Sox slugger Jim Rice.
Henderson was named on 94.8
percent of ballots cast on his first
try on the BBWAA ballot, becoming
the 44th person in his first
year of eligibility elected by the
BBWAA.
Henderson was listed on 511
ballots, the third-highest total of
all time.
Rice was named on 76.4 percent
of ballots — gaining election
by seven votes in his last year of
BBWAA eligibility. Rice was
named on 412 ballots to become
just the fourth player elected by
the BBWAA in their final try on
the ballot.
The December 2008 Veterans
Committee election produced one
electee for induction on July 26:
Former Yankees and Indians second
baseman Joe Gordon, who is
deceased. Gordon, who was a part
of five World Series-winning
teams in his 11 seasons and was
named to nine All-Star Games,
received 83.3 percent of the vote
after being named on 10 of a possible
12 ballots.
Additionally, the Hall of Fame
will recognize the longtime analyst
for NBC Sports, the Blue
Jays and the Yankees, Tony
Kubek, with the 2009 Ford C.
Frick Award for major contributions
to baseball broadcasting.
Nick Peters, who covered the San
Francisco Giants from 1961-2007,
will be honored with the 2009
J.G. Taylor Spink award for meritorious
contributions to baseball
writing, presented by the Baseball
Writers’ Association of America.
The Induction Ceremony will
be shown live on MLB Network,
which is available in more than
50 million homes nationwide.
Veteran baseball announcer
George Grande, who has called
games for ESPN, the New York
Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and
currently the Cincinnati Reds,
will return as master of ceremonies.
This will be Grande’s 29th
year serving as master of ceremonies
for Induction Weekend.
Unless severe weather forces
its cancellation, the Ceremony
will take place 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 short walk provides a picturesque
view of the homes of Cooperstown.
Please note that professional
interpreters will be provided for
the hearing impaired.
The event will be held outdoors
unless severe weather forces the
cancellation of the ceremony.
The Ceremony is expected to
last two-to-three hours. 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 quite warm in July,
it is recommended that visitors
bring a cap and sunscreen. Ball
caps, Yearbooks 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.
As of July 8, 52 Hall of Fame
members are expected to attend
Hall of Fame Weekend to welcome
the 2009 class.
Included in the group are fan
favorites Hank Aaron and Willie
Mays.
Also: Sparky Anderson, Bob
Feller, Al Kaline, Eddie Murray,
Ozzie Smith, Yogi Berra, Rollie
Fingers, Harmon Killebrew, Phil
Niekro, Bruce Sutter, Wade
Boggs, Carlton Fisk, Ralph Kiner,
Tony Perez, Don Sutton, George
Brett, Johnny Bench, Whitey
Ford, Lee MacPhail, Gaylord Perry,
Earl Weaver, Jim Bunning,
Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Robin
Roberts, Billy Williams, Rod
Carew, Goose Gossage, Don Sutton,
Brooks Robinson, Dick Williams,
Steve Carlton, Tony Gwynn,
Bill Mazeroski, Frank
Robinson, Dave Winfield, Gary
Carter, Monte Irvin, Willie Mc-
Covey, Ryne Sandberg, Carl Yastrzemski,
Orlando Cepeda, Reggie
Jackson, Paul Molitor, Mike
Schmidt, Robin Yount, Dennis
Eckersley, Fergie Jenkins, Joe
Morgan, and Tom Seaver.
