MLB.com Columnist
Alyson Footer
Hall of Fame induction weekend FAQ
Jam-packed schedule of events on tap for celebration in Cooperstown
Thousands travel to Cooperstown every year for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and for just about everyone who doesn't already live in the upstate New York area, the trek can be time-consuming. The good news is that it's well worth the effort, as this annual celebration is jam-packed with much more than just the ceremony.
The Hall of Fame induction event is a weekend-long festival, turning the tiny, charming village into the world's greatest block party. The streets leading up to the Hall of Fame are lined with restaurants, tourist sites and baseball memorabilia shops -- with the odds of running into a Hall of Famer at an all-time high, given the volume of legends who return and the small dimensions of the town.
• Complete Hall of Fame coverage
• Shop for Hall of Fame gear
The following is a weekend cheat sheet, for those of you who are there, or want to be there, or will be watching on TV:
SATURDAY
Awards Presentation
Hall of Fame honors begin with the Awards Presentation at Doubleday Field. The ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. ET and is free and open to the public.
This year's ceremony will honor radio pioneer Graham McNamee, who will receive the Ford C. Frick Award for baseball broadcasting excellence, and Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, who will receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing. The two will be represented in a separate wing at the Hall of Fame that recognizes excellence in media.
Additionally, New York City Fire Department Battalion Chief Vin Mavaro will share his thoughts and memories of baseball's role in helping New York City, and the nation, recover from the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Gates open at 3 p.m.
Parade of Legends
This event, which follows the Awards Presentation, is, simply put, awesome. Nearly every Hall of Famer who has made the trip to Cooperstown participates in the Parade of Legends, which gives fans an up-close and personal opportunity to cheer their favorite baseball greats.
Each Hall of Famer rides in the back of a truck provided by Ford Motor Company down Main Street. There are no bad vantage points, and several Hall of Famers make the experience even more fun by engaging with the onlookers. Some even jump out to sign autographs at the end.
Last year's highlights included Randy Johnson taking photos of the crowd throughout his parade journey and Ozzie Smith running up and down alongside a thick line of fans, giving high-fives and signing autographs.
And the always-engaging Pedro Martinez, dressed in a coral-colored jacket and white pants, enjoyed the give-and-take with the fans so much that he eventually had to be gently prodded away in order to retreat into an invitation-only reception that awaited all of the Hall of Famers upon the conclusion of the parade.
SUNDAY'S CEREMONY DETAILS
Who is going in?
This year's class will feature the first overall No. 1 Draft pick to be elected to the Hall -- Ken Griffey Jr., who also has the distinction of garnering the highest percentage in history. He'll be joined by the best offensive catcher in history, Mike Piazza, who is on the opposite end of the spectrum as the lowest Draft pick (No. 1,390 in 1988) to be elected to the Hall.
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Griffey, who appeared on all but three ballots, finished his career with 630 home runs, sixth on the all-time list. He was named to 11 consecutive All-Star teams, beginning in 1990, and was named to 13 All-Star teams total. He won 10 Gold Glove Awards and seven Silver Slugger Awards.
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Piazza's 1,335 RBIs rank fourth among catchers all-time behind Yogi Berra, Ted Simmons and Johnny Bench. He posted a .308 career batting average and was named to 12 All-Star Games, winning the 1996 All-Star Game MVP. He also captured 10 Silver Slugger Awards and finished in the top five of the National League MVP Award voting four times, including back-to-back second-place finishes in 1996 and '97.
• Piazza's induction to hold special place with Mets fans
How do I get there?
The induction ceremony is on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center on lower Susquehanna Avenue, just one mile south of the Hall of Fame. Shuttles from the Hall of Fame at Fair and Main Street will begin service at 8:30 a.m. The final shuttle will run at 1 p.m., and shuttles will not run during the induction ceremony.
What time does the induction ceremony begin? How can I watch it?
The ceremony will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Clark Sports Center. Admission to the ceremony is free and coverage begins on MLB Network and MLB.com at 11 a.m. It will be held rain or shine, unless severe weather forces a cancellation of the event.
Lawn seating is unlimited and free of charge, and refreshments will be sold on site. (Pro tip: bring sunscreen and a hat. The sprawling area has no protection from the sun.)
Who will be there?
Close to 50 Hall of Famers are scheduled to attend, ranging from the longest-tenured Hall of Famer of those planning to be there (Sandy Koufax, class of 1972) to last year's inductees: Martinez, Johnson, Craig Biggio, and John Smoltz. Other notables (but really, aren't they all?): Johnny Bench ('89), Rod Carew ('91), Whitey Ford ('74), Juan Marichal ('83) and Eddie Murray (2003).
Alyson Footer is a national correspondent for MLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @alysonfooter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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