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Home  News Gossage & Williams Inductions at Baseball Hall of Fame July 25-28
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Gossage & Williams Inductions at Baseball Hall of Fame July 25-28
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Baseball Hall of Fame
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(COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.): In less than four weeks, all eyes of the baseball world will once again turn to Cooperstown, N.Y., for Hall of Fame Weekend 2008, July 25-28, as 50 Hall of Famers are scheduled to return to honor the Class of 2008 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The annual Induction Ceremony will be held Sunday, July 27, at 1:30 p.m. EDT at the Clark Sports Center, located about a mile from the Museum. A full weekend of family events, baseball entertainment, and exclusive opportunities complements a classic American weekend from this central New York State pastoral village.
One electee emerged from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote in January – former relief pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage, who became the 199th former Major League player to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Gossage was named on 85.8 percent of ballots cast. Gossage was listed on 466 ballots in his ninth try in the BBWAA election.
The December 2007 Veterans Committee election produced two former managers and three former executives for induction July 27. Former Red Sox, A’s, Angels, Expos, Padres and Mariners skipper Dick Williams, who led his teams to four World Series appearances, will receive his plaque at the Clark Sports Center after receiving 13 of 16 possible votes for a percentage of 81.3. Billy Southworth, who managed the Cardinals and Braves for 13 seasons and posted a remarkable .597 winning percentage, also received 81.3 percent of the vote. Former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss, one of the fathers of the first World Series in 1903, received 83 percent of the vote on the Executives and Pioneers ballot. Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn also received 83 percent of the vote, while former Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, who pioneered baseball’s expansion to the West Coast, received 75 percent of the vote.
Gossage and Williams are the only living electees. Candidates needed to receive 75 percent of the vote to be elected. The five Veterans Committee electees mark the first selections by the Vets Committee since 2001.
Bios of all Hall of Fame electees are available at baseballhalloffame.org.
Additionally, the Hall of Fame will recognize longtime voice of the Seattle Mariners, Dave Niehaus, with the 2008 Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. The late Larry Whiteside, the first African-American Hall of Fame voter, will be honored with the 2008 J.G. Taylor Spink award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing, presented by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
And for the first time, the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented, with the late O’Neil being the first recipient. The award will honor an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseball's positive impact on society, has broadened the game's appeal, and whose character, integrity and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by O'Neil.
The Induction Ceremony will be shown live on ESPN Classic, with live radio broadcast nationally on ESPN Radio. ESPN2 will air a condensed rebroadcast of the Induction Ceremony at 8 p.m. EDT Monday. An audio and video stream cast will be available at baseballhalloffame.org.
As of July 2, 50 Hall of Fame members are expected to attend Hall of Fame Weekend to welcome the 2008 class.
Sparky Anderson Orlando Cepeda Reggie Jackson Bill Mazeroski Frank Robinson
Luis Aparicio Bobby Doerr Fergie Jenkins Willie McCovey Ryne Sandberg
Johnny Bench Dennis Eckersley Al Kaline Paul Molitor Red Schoendienst
Yogi Berra Bob Feller George Kell Joe Morgan Tom Seaver
Wade Boggs Rollie Fingers Harmon Killebrew Eddie Murray Ozzie Smith
George Brett Carlton Fisk Ralph Kiner Phil Niekro Bruce Sutter
Lou Brock Whitey Ford Sandy Koufax Jim Palmer Don Sutton
Jim Bunning Bob Gibson Tommy Lasorda Gaylord Perry Earl Weaver
Steve Carlton Tony Gwynn Juan Marichal Robin Roberts Billy Williams
Gary Carter Monte Irvin Willie Mays Brooks Robinson Dave Winfield
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. Grande has introduced the returning Hall of Fame members at the Induction Ceremony since 1981.
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 thirsty visitors.
PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith - special guests George Brett and Eddie Murray: Ozzie Smith returns in a fundraiser for the Hall of Fame’s education and public programs with a unique opportunity for fans, featuring fellow Hall of Famers George and Eddie Murray. This two-hour event features non-stop interaction at each station with a living legend and includes special mementos. Spaces are limited to 40 participants. The donation is $1,000 per person, with Hall of Fame members admitted for $750 and those booking two or more participants will receive a 10% discount. To reserve your spot, please call 607-547-0397. 8:30 a.m., Friday.
Legends for Youth Skills Clinic: The annual Legends for Youth Skills Clinic allows children ages 5-12 to spend the afternoon enhancing their baseball skills with Hall of Famers and other former major leaguers on historic Doubleday Field. Details, including participating players, will be announced at a later date. Participation in the clinic is free. Registration for Members is under way and non-members may register beginning Monday, July 21 by calling the Membership department at 607-547-0397. This event is sponsored by AutoTrader.com and Coca-Cola. Doubleday Field, 1:30 p.m.Friday.
NY-PENN League Game: The annual New York-Penn League game featuring the Oneonta Tigers and Tri-City Valley Cats entertains fans at Doubleday Field. This game is FREE and open to the public. Special thanks to Coca-Cola and Key Bank for their financial support. Doubleday Field, 2 p.m. Saturday.
Connecting Generations: The popular Connecting Generations returns with an all-new format for fans of all ages. Families from the audience will be chosen to play Hall of Fame Feud versus members of the Hall of Fame family George Brett, Lou Brock, Willie McCovey and Bruce Sutter. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. Members may reserve tickets immediately, and any remaining tickets will be distributed to non-members on July 21 by calling 607-547-0397. Clark Sports Center, 3 p.m., Saturday.
Red Carpet Arrivals: Join the pageantry and excitement of the red carpet arrivals at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Watch as the Hall of Famers arrive on trolleys and participate in red carpet interviews on the way into their private reception. Museum, 8 p.m., Saturday.
Legends Event: The Hall of Fame’s newest members, Goose Gossage and Dick Williams, participate in a televised Legends Event. This event is for Members only and tickets are currently available by visiting the Membership desk in the Museum or by calling 607-547-0397: $5 for adult members; children 12 and under receive free admission but still must reserve a ticket, Clark Sports Center, 10:30 a.m., Monday.
Hall of Fame members are afforded special opportunities throughout the Weekend. As a not-for-profit educational institution, membership support advances the Museum's programs and aids in the preservation of artifacts and archival materials that document the rich history of America's game. Additionally, membership packages are wonderful and unique gifts for friends and family. Members enjoy many privileges, including free admission to the Hall of Fame the year round. To learn more about the program and its many benefits, please visit baseballhalloffame.org.
Additional Hall of Fame Weekend Privileges:
Free admission to the Museum 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
VIP reserved seating for the Induction for Benefactor and President's Circle members
Access to the Connecting Generations event Saturday and exclusive access to the Legends Series Monday
Transportation provided to and from the Museum for special Weekend events
The Museum maintains the following Hall of Fame Weekend hours: Friday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Monday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Advance tickets are not necessary but are available by contacting the Hall of Fame at 888-425-5633. For Hall of Fame members, doors open at 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 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. Interested parties may enroll in the membership program in advance or at the museum.
Parking will be extremely limited in Cooperstown during Hall of Fame Weekend. As is the case throughout the summer, the village will make parking and trolley service available at three trolley lots in Cooperstown. The Cooperstown Trolley will provide transit to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field from three different locations: the Blue Lot on Route 28, south of Cooperstown; the Red Lot on Route 28 (Glen Avenue) at Maple Street; and the Yellow Lot on Route 80 at the upper parking lot of the Fenimore Art Museum. All-day passes are available for $5 per adult and FREE for children 12 and under. The Trolley will operate throughout Hall of Fame Weekend from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Monday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday of Induction Weekend, a parking lot, located on River Road just one mile southeast of the village, will be made available for vehicles. Shuttle service will loop to the Clark Sports Center and the village of Cooperstown, returning to the parking lot throughout the day. Look for signs directing traffic to the lot, as the south entrance to the village will be off Route 28 in Milford.
If you need help with accommodations during your stay, you should plan to contact the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce at 607-547-9983, or visit the Chamber web site at www.cooperstownchamber.org. The Chamber of Commerce site provides detailed information about what to see, where to stay, places to eat and where to shop in Cooperstown and nearby towns. For driving directions from major cities, area cities and local airports, visit the directions page at the Hall of Fame’s Web site for more information www.baseballhall.org.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Museum observes off-season hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Brad Horn, Senior Director, Communications and Education
607-547-0287,
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Craig Muder, Director, Communications
607-547-0227,
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Samantha Carr, Media Relations Coordinator
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