Inductees' family members may be allowed at Cooperstown event

It has not yet been determined if Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) will be able to have family on hand in Cooperstown for his induction into National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer. Photo: National Baseball Hall of Fame

March 23, 2021

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

In order to salvage its marquee event, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown made the painful decision to move its induction ceremony for 2020 selections indoors this July rather than have it outdoors as has been the tradition.

This decision means that hall officials laid out some regulations. The event is intended as a TV-only event to be streamed live on the MLB Network because of the pandemic which saw the 2020 event called off.

"All the details are not set yet but we are not credentialing any media for Hall of Fame weekend,'' said Craig Muder, the hall's "There won't be any fans or media at the event.''

The same ruling applies to former inductees: they are not being invited to induction weekend, meaning the Otesaga Resort Hotel that traditionally accommodates past stars will lose a lot of business. Likewise for the hotel's sidekick Leatherstocking Golf Course.

But what is possible is that family members and friends of inductees Larry Walker, Derek Jeter, Ted Simmons and the late union activist Marvin Miller may be allowed to attend.

"Those specifics have not yet been determined,'' Muder said.

So the waiting game continues for people like Larry Walker Sr. of Mission City, B.C., who would love to see his Expos legend's son make his induction speech, even if it's only for a limited audience.

"I am sure hoping to go but as far as I know, nothing is set in stone yet,'' Walker said in an interview. "I just sit and wait until I either get confirmation or denial. A lot depends on the Canada-USA travel situation.''

Walker Sr. said he doesn't want to be forced into several days of quarantine upon his return from Cooperstown at a B.C. hotel under Canada's current travel regulations.

Cooperstown merchants have been devastated by the pandemic, enduring major losses of revenue generated by a normal induction weekend, not just in 2020 but again this year. Pre-Covid, many Main St. vendors would do a brisk business by routinely staging autograph sessions either outside or inside their venues for legends, including Canadian Fergie Jenkins, Denny McLain and Pete Rose.

Cooperstown bills itself as America's Most Perfect Village but on induction weekend, it will be largely free of baseball traffic. A victim of the pandemic.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys is hoping to have an induction event this year for its 2020 selections but no date has been set.

Danny Gallagher's upcoming book of Expos memories is called Never Forgotten.