The Baseball Hall of Fame releases induction weekend activities.
By: Michael Spellman
Updated: January 23, 2012
Hall of Fame Weekend 2012 will feature a Midwest theme this July
20-23, as the eyes of the baseball world turn to Cooperstown, N.Y. for the inductions of
Cincinnati Reds great Barry Larkin and Chicago fan-favorite Ron
Santo, along with award presentations and family programming for baseball fans
of all generations.
More than 50 Hall of Famers are expected to return for
Hall of Fame Weekend, with the full list of returnees to be announced in early
July, to honor the Class of 2012 at the National Baseball Hall of
Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,
honoring the two newest members, will be held Sunday, July 22, at
1:30 p.m. EDT at the
Clark Sports Center and will be shown live on
MLB Network.
The Class of 2012 features two of the most dominant
players of any era.
Larkin, a shortstop who played his entire 19-year big
league career with the Reds, was named on 86.4 percent of ballots cast on his
third try on the BBWAA ballot on Jan. 9. He received 495 votes, reflecting a
24.3-percent gain from the 2011 ballot. Larkin's jump is the largest for any
Hall of Fame election in which at least 400 ballots were cast. Larkin, a 12-time
All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner, ranks among the game's
greatest shortstops.
Santo, who was named to nine All-Star Games in his 15
big league seasons, received 15 of 16 votes from the Golden Era Committee
members at the winter meetings in December. Five times Santo won a Gold Glove
Award. Santo becomes the 12th former major league third
baseman elected to the Hall of Fame and just the 15th overall (including Negro
leagues players). Santo passed away on Dec. 3,
2010.
There are now 297 Hall of Fame members, 66 of
whom are
living.
2012 Award winners Tim McCarver and Bob Elliott will
receive their recognition and deliver brief speeches during the
Awards Presentation on
Saturday, July 21 at 4:30
p.m. at Doubleday Field.
McCarver, who has served as a national analyst on
networks for three decades and simultaneously shined as part of broadcast teams
with four big league clubs, will be presented the 2012 Ford C. Frick Award for
excellence in baseball broadcasting. Elliott, who has been a positive influence
on an entire country the past 30 years as a writer, columnist and ambassador for
baseball and Canada, will be honored with the 2012 J.G. Taylor Spink Award for
meritorious contributions to baseball writing, presented by the
BBWAA.
The Sunday, July 22 Induction
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
Ceremony is held rain or shine, unless severe weather forces the cancellation of
the event. Professional interpreters will be provided for the hearing impaired.
The Induction Ceremony historically lasts two
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. For information on reserved seating options granted to Museum members,
please call 607-547-0397.
The Hall of Fame
Awards Presentation
will be held at 4:30 p.m. on
Saturday, July 21 at Doubleday Field and will feature the presentation of the
Ford C. Frick Award for baseball broadcasting excellence to Tim McCarver and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious
contributions to baseball writing to Bob Elliott. The Awards Presentation will be immediately followed by
the Parade of
Legends, as Hall of Fame
members ride down Main Street in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company at 6
p.m., concluding with a red carpet arrival on the Museum steps as Hall of Fame
members make their way to the Museum for a private reception.
Throughout the
Weekend, the Hall of Fame will host a series of educational programs and
fan-friendly experiences designed to connect generations of all ages in
activities and events featuring baseball luminaries in the timeless and pastoral
village of Cooperstown. Additional programming, both at the Museum and at
Doubleday Field on Saturday of Induction Weekend, will be announced soon. Full
details of new events and schedule changes will be announced at the Hall of
Fame's Web site baseballhall.org.
Planned activities for Hall of Fame Weekend 2012
include:
Hall of Fame
Weekend Events
Friday, July 20
PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith &
special guests (Hall of Famers TBA) 8-11
a.m.
Plaque Gallery
and On Field
Saturday, July 21 Hall of Fame
Awards Presentation, Doubleday
Field
4:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame Parade of Legends, Main
Street
6 p.m.
Sunday, July 22
Induction Ceremony, Clark Sports
Center
1:30 p.m.
Monday, July 23 Voices of the
Game - Inductee Memories: Clark Sports
Center 10:30
a.m.
Featuring Barry
Larkin and other special guests.
For more information on induction weekend activities, please visit baseballhall.org.
For more information on induction weekend activities, please visit baseballhall.org.
