Walker's HOF ceremony returns to standard, unticketed seating format

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced on Monday that its Sept. 8 Induction Ceremony, in which Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) will be honoured, will return to its standard seating format. Tickets will not be required for the event’s free lawn seating area. Photo: National Baseball Hall of Fame

June 21, 2021

Official National Baseball Hall of Fame News Release

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Following last Tuesday’s announcement by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that lifted significant COVID-19 restrictions, the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Sept. 8 Induction Ceremony will return to its standard seating format. Tickets will not be required for the event’s free lawn seating area.

The Induction Ceremony, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, on the grounds of Cooperstown’s Clark Sports Center, will celebrate the inductions of Class of 2020 members Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.). The Induction Ceremony will be broadcast live exclusively on MLB Network.

Since 1992, the Induction Ceremony has been held on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, with estimated crowds approaching and surpassing 50,000 at five of the last six ceremonies from 2014-2019. The second-largest crowd on record – an estimated 55,000 people – attended the Hall of Fame’s last Induction Ceremony, which took place on July 21, 2019. Last year’s cancelation due to the coronavirus pandemic marked the first time the Hall of Fame did not hold an Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown since 1960.

The Hall of Fame’s Annual Awards Presentation will remain an indoor, television-only event, taking place on Saturday, July 24, with the Award Winners or their representatives being invited back to Cooperstown to be recognized at the Induction Ceremony. The Awards Presentation will honor 2021 Ford C. Frick Award winner for broadcasting excellence, Al Michaels, and the 2020 Frick Award winner, Ken Harrelson; the 2021 Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award winner, Dick Kaegel, and the 2020 BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner, Nick Cafardo; and the 2020 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner, David Montgomery.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum remains open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the Museum’s expanded summer hours, which run through the Sunday before Labor Day. A comprehensive health and safety plan for the Museum remains in place, including a timed admission ticketing system. Visitors are encourage to reserve their time slot for entry and plan their visit at baseballhall.org/reopening.

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. The Museum observes summer hours of 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. through the day before Labor Day.