National Baseball Hall of Fame to honor 2019 inductees
July 19, 2019 02:55 PM
COOPERSTOWN – The Hall of Fame Induction record crowd of 82,000 in 2007 for headliner Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles. That could be surpassed this weekend when the Hall grows by six, led by Mariano Rivera. He was the first unanimous vote-getter in the Baseball Hall of Fame's history.
"It's really something we look forward to every year, it's just a family reunion of sorts," said John Magyar of Atlanta, GA. "We meet these guys as we come and get to know each other and we bond along the way because we all have this crazy thing that we do together every year."
Chairs are already lined up along Main Street as fans hope to catch a glimpse of their heroes of yesteryear. That includes Jen Kelty of Albany who was holding a few spots for her father and friends.
The Houch family flew in from #California. It’s David Stankowicz’s 3rd trip to @baseballhall. ‘69 with his dad, ‘97 with his daughter and now with grandsons. @WNYT pic.twitter.com/E0Ht0MpX2G
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
Tim Kuncis @barnwoodsports is an officially licensed artist with @baseballhall setting up shop near #DoubledayField for #HOFWKND. @WNYT pic.twitter.com/EXoKasWKLv
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
Jen Kelty of #AlbanyNY & her dad Bill Pulver of #Colonie already have seats outside @baseballhall for #parade #inductionweekend #HOF2019 on Main St. @GoCooperstown. Chairs are in lockdown. @WNYT pic.twitter.com/4xVwInbDga
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
Great to see my friend @JasonPowles @WKTV working just as hard as ever @baseballhall. pic.twitter.com/GkUISPdu3S
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
During @baseballhall #PlayBall with members making memories #HOF2019 #HOFWKND @GoCooperstown with Alan Trammell @tigers Jim Thome @Indians Trevor Hoffman @Padres & Ozzie Smith @Cardinals. @WNYT pic.twitter.com/350dkpc6lK
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
The cleanest street in #America @GoCooperstown early on Friday outside @baseballhall #hofwknd #HOF2019 @WNYT pic.twitter.com/HTcu9VbtHN
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
In @GoCooperstown this morning @baseballhall. @WNYT pic.twitter.com/rzPIgXbOmf
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
In #cooperstown this morning for @baseballhall #inductionweekend. @GoCooperstown live guests @WNYT pic.twitter.com/oP5oJKOsOD
— John Craig (@JohnCraigWNYT) July 19, 2019
"There's nothing like the Hall of Fame," said Kelty. "I come out here a couple of times a year. I love it out here."
Meantime, Tara Burke, the Exec. Dir. of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, is from Guilderland and ready for her first induction weekend.
"For me I'm just excited to see it," said Burke. "Helping visitor services all day every day for us at the Chamber so it's just an increased capacity of doing that."
WEB EXTRA: Current Baseball Hall-of-Fame President Tim Mead
Approximately 60 Hall of Famers are expected to be on hand this weekend.
"This is what the game is all about," said Ozzie Smith. "When you play for 15-20 years hopefully this is the place where you end up."
The Hall of Fame Class is Harold Baines, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith.
WEB EXTRA: Former Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson and Photographer Jean Fruth
Credits
WNYT staff
Updated: July 19, 2019 02:55 PM
Created: July 19, 2019 07:18 AM
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