Inductions of Guerrero, Hoffman, Jones, Morris,
Thome and Trammell Highlight
Hall of Fame Weekend 2018, July 27-30
— Class of 2018 Will Be Inducted in Less than Eight Weeks —
(COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.) – The legends of the game are coming to Cooperstown. And when they return to the home of baseball in July, they’ll have six new members of the club waiting for them.
Welcome to Cooperstown, Class of 2018.
Hall of Fame Weekend is less than 60 days away, with new classics and old favorites throughout the event lineup as the game’s newest immortals take their bow July 27-30.
More than 50 Hall of Famers are scheduled to be in Cooperstown to honor the Class of 2018 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris, Jim Thome and Alan Trammell will be held Sunday, July 29, at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Clark Sports Center – located one mile south of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Guerrero, Hoffman, Jones and Thome were elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in January. They’ll be joined on the Induction Stage by Modern Baseball Era electees Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.
Guerrero, who earned votes on 92.9 percent of all BBWAA ballots cast, played 16 seasons for the Expos, Angels, Rangers and Orioles, earning nine All-Star Game selections and winning the 2004 American League Most Valuable Player Award. An eight-time Silver Slugger Award winner for his work in right field and at designated hitter, Guerrero hit .300-or-better 13 times, drove in 100-or-more runs 10 times and topped the 30-home run mark in eight seasons.
Hoffman, who appeared on 79.9 percent of all BBWAA ballots cast, pitched 18 seasons for the Marlins, Padres and Brewers, spending 16 seasons in San Diego. The first pitcher to reach both the 500-save and 600-save milestones, Hoffman ranks second in MLB history with 601 saves and second with 856 games finished.
Jones played 19 seasons, all for the Atlanta Braves, including 12 years in which the Braves made the postseason. The first overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft, Jones – who appeared on 97.2 of all BBWAA ballots cast – becomes the second No. 1-overall selection to earn Hall of Fame election, following Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016. An eight-time All-Star and the 1999 NL Most Valuable Player, Jones topped the 100-RBI mark nine times and had eight seasons with at least 100 runs scored.
Morris pitched 18 seasons for the Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays and Indians, earning 14 Opening Day starts and four World Series rings. A five-time All-Star, Morris finished in the Top 5 of his league’s Cy Young Award voting five times. H led all pitchers in the 1980s with 2,444.2 innings pitched and 162 wins and topped all American League pitchers in strikeouts with 1,629. Among pitchers whose careers began after 1976, Morris recorded the most complete games with 175.
Thome, who received votes on 89.8 percent of all BBWAA ballots cast, played 22 seasons for the Indians, Phillies, White Sox, Dodgers, Twins and Orioles. One of nine members of the 600-home run club, Thome’s 612 long balls rank eighth on the all-time list, and his 1,747 walks rank seventh all-time. Thome recorded 100-or-more RBI nine times and scored 100-or-more runs in eight seasons. Thome, who ranks fifth all-time in at-bats per home run with a mark of 13.76, began his career as a third baseman before moving to first base.
Trammell played 20 seasons – all for the Tigers – and earned six All-Star Game selections, four Gold Glove Awards and three Silver Slugger Awards at shortstop. A seven-time .300 hitter, Trammell scored 100-or-more runs three times, topped the 30-double mark six times and stole 20-or-more bases three times. His 2,139 games at shortstop rank 11th on the all-time list, and his .977 fielding percentage ranks sixth among shortstops with at least 2,000 games played.
The Induction Ceremony will be shown live on MLB Network, which has televised the event every year since its launch in 2009. The Induction Ceremony will also be shown via webcast at baseballhall.org.
The Hall of Fame Awards Presentation will be held at 4:30 p.m. on July 28 at Doubleday Field and will feature the presentation of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters to Bob Costas and the J.G. Taylor Spink award for writers to Sheldon Ocker. The Awards Presentation is free and open to the public.
Also on Saturday, July 28, the Hall of Fame Parade of Legends returns for the eighth year to provide fans with more thrills. Hall of Famers will ride down Main Street in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company en route to a private reception at the Museum during the 6 p.m. parade.
The Sunday, July 29 Induction Ceremony will take place on the grounds outside of the Clark Sports Center, which is located on lower Susquehanna Avenue, unless severe weather cancels the event. Follow the Hall of Fame on Twitter @baseballhall for the latest updates.
The site of the Induction Ceremony is located just one mile south of the Hall of Fame, and 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 rain or shine, unless severe weather forces the cancellation of the Ceremony.
The Ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours. Lawn seating for the event is unlimited and free of charge. Reserved seating options are available at the Museum’s Contributor, President’s Circle and Benefactor Membership levels – call 607-547-0397 for more information. A blanket or lawn chair is recommended for comfortable viewing. As the weather in Cooperstown can be warm in July, it is recommended that visitors bring a cap and sunscreen. The Commemorative Hall of Fame Weekend Program, ball caps, Yearbooks and Museum memberships are available for purchase at the Induction site, which features two retail locations open from 9 a.m. until the end of the Ceremony. Refreshments are sold at the site and water is provided complimentary to visitors.
Family activities scheduled throughout Hall of Fame Weekend 2018 include the following special events:
Hall of Fame Weekend Events
Friday, July 27 PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith & Tim Raines (additional Hall of Famers TBA)
Plaque Gallery and On Field * Registration fee required 8 a.m.
Saturday, July 28 Hall of Fame Awards Presentation, Doubleday Field 4:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame Parade of Legends, Main Street 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 29 Induction Ceremony, Clark Sports Center 1:30 p.m.
Monday, July 30 Legends of the Game Roundtable, Doubleday Field 10:30 a.m.
Featuring Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris, Jim Thome and Alan Trammell
PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith – with special guests including Tim Raines: Ozzie Smith returns in a fundraiser to support the Hall of Fame’s educational mission with a unique opportunity for fans, featuring fellow Hall of Famer Tim Raines and two additional Hall of Famers to be announced. This two-hour event features non-stop interaction at each station with a living legend and includes special mementos. Space is limited. The donation is $1,000 per person, with Hall of Fame Members admitted for $750. To reserve your spot, please call 607-547-0310. 8 a.m., Friday.
Hall of Fame Parade of Legends: Join the pageantry and excitement as the Hall of Famers ride in trucks provided by Ford Motor Company down Main Street on their way to a private reception at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Fans are encouraged to attend the Awards Presentation prior to making their way to the Parade. Main Street, 6 p.m., Saturday.
Legends of the Game Roundtable: The Hall of Fame’s newest members, Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris, Jim Thome and Alan Trammell, participate in the Legends of the Game Roundtable event at historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. This event is for Members only and costs $10 for adults and $5 for juniors (under 12 years old). Tickets are available to members now by calling 607-547-0397. Doubleday Field,10:30 a.m., Monday.
Museum Members are afforded special opportunities throughout the Weekend. As a nonprofit institution, membership support advances the Museum’s commitment to preserve the National Pastime 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 year-round. To learn more about the program and its many benefits, please visit. www.baseballhall.org/join.
Additional Hall of Fame Weekend Privileges for Members
· 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 Contributor, President’s Circle and Benefactor Members
- VIP reserved seating for the Awards Presentation for Contributor, President’s Circle and Benefactor Members
- A complimentary copy of the Commemorative Hall of Fame Weekend Program
- Priority access to the Legends of the Game Roundtable program on Monday
The Museum maintains the following Hall of Fame Weekend hours: Friday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Plaque Gallery closes at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday); 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 or by visiting www.baseballhall.org/visit. 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 Red Lot on Route 28 (Glen Avenue) at Maple Street; the Blue Lot on Route 28 just south of Cooperstown; and the Yellow Lot on Route 80 at the upper parking lot of the Fenimore Art Museum. All-day passes are available for $2 per adult and free for children 5 and under. The Trolley will operate throughout Hall of Fame Weekend daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Follow the trolley’s stops atwww.followthetrolley.com.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has teamed up with Sports Travel and Tours to offer baseball fans a one-stop opportunity to purchase Hall of Fame Induction Weekend travel packages. For more information or to plan a trip to Cooperstown, please call 1-888-310-HALL (4255). Membership participants receive a 5% discount on all their baseball travel packages.
If you need help with accommodations during your stay, please visit www.thisiscooperstown.com/lodging. For driving directions from major cities, area cities and local airports, visit the directions page at the Hall of Fame’s website for more information: www.baseballhall.org/visit/cooperstown.
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 Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend, the Museum observes daily regular hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Museum observes summer hours of 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend until the day before Labor Day. Ticket prices are $23 for adults (13 and over), $15 for seniors (65 and over) and $12 for juniors (ages 7-12) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations. Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For more information, visit our website at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.
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For More Information, Please Contact:
Jon Shestakofsky, Vice President of Communications and Education
607-547-0287, jshesta@baseballhall.org
Craig Muder, Director of Communications
607-547-0227, cmuder@baseballhall.org
