Skies Clear Over Cooperstown for NBHoF Induction Ceremony
By CHARLIE VASCELLAROCOOPERSTOWN
The 2025 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was delayed by one hour because of rain, but with an assist from the baseball gods the skies cleared up and the ceremony took place under intermittent clouds and sunshine. The estimated attendance of 30,000 was nowhere near the 55,000 that had been speculated.
In the unusual position of leading off was closer Billy Wagner, eighth on the all-time saves list with 422, behind Hall of Famers including Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, and Dennis Eckersley, and ahead of such luminaries as Rollie Fingers and Rich Gossage.
In a humble and subdued speech, Wagner revisited the start of his 16-year career: “Who could have imagined, when I debuted in 1995, I would take the field with two future Hall of Famers, and now I’m joining them,” said Wagner, glancing back from the podium at former Houston Astros teammates Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.
Speaking on behalf of his father, feared slugger and famed outfielder Dave Parker—who died just one month before the Induction Ceremony—Dave Parker II delivered a rhythmic, beat-poet style speech, moving in and out of his voice and his father’s voice in a spontaneous and improvisational style.
