Hall of Fame Adopts a Virtual Approach to 2021 Induction Ceremonies

From the desk of  Jon Shestakofsky

COOPERSTOWN, NY – After cancelling the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies a year ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors has approved a format built around television events taking place in doors for the July 25 ceremony this year instead of the traditional outdoor event at the Clark Sports Center.

The event will not be open to the public.

The Hall of Fame Classic Weekend events, scheduled for May 28-29, has been cancelled. The event features appearances by Hall of Famers and players representing each of the 30 major league teams, Classic Weekend’s Night at the Museum meet-and-greet event, BASE Race and Cooperstown Classic Clinic .

“Though we are having to cancel our 2021 Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, the Hall of Fame is maintaining its commitment to hold an Induction Ceremony on July 25,” said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “We had hoped to be in a position to welcome loyal baseball fans back to Cooperstown for Induction Weekend, but with the continuing uncertainties created by COVID-19, the Board of Directors has decided not to hold Induction Weekend ceremonies at the traditional Clark Sports Center location.

“We have prepared alternative plans to conduct our annual Awards Presentation and Induction Ceremony as television events taking place indoors and adhering to all of the required New York State guidelines.” 

The Hall of Fame’s 2021 Induction Ceremony will honor the members of the Class of 2020: Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker. Being honored during the Awards Presentation will be 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.

For decades, the Induction Ceremony has been held as an unticketed event, free and open to all fans. Since 1992, the Induction Ceremony has been held on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, with estimated crowds approaching and surpassing 50,000 at five of the last six ceremonies from 2014-2019. The second-largest crowd on record – an estimated 55,000 people – attended the Hall of Fame’s last Induction Ceremony, which took place on July 21, 2019. Last year’s cancelation marked the first time the Hall of Fame did not hold an Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown since 1960.