COOPERSTOWN – The annual Hall of Fame Classic weekend at the Baseball Hall of Fame has been cancelled, Jon Shestakofsky, Communications VP, announced moments ago.
“This precautionary measure is being implemented in accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and government officials to limit opportunities for large gatherings and the further spread of the COVID-19 virus,”Shestakofsky wrote in a statement.
COOPERSTOWN – The Baseball Hall of Fame announced at 5:29 that it will close to the public indefinitely beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 15.
This precautionary measure is being implemented in accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and government officials to limit opportunities for large gatherings and the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, an announcement said.
The Hall of Fame will provide updated information each Sunday at noon beginning March 22.
Two of the state’s top Republicans, last year’s GOP gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro and state GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy are at the Baseball Hall of Fame at this hour for the annual awards banquet of the state’s Young Republicans. Local attendees include, from right, Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, Assemblyman Chris Tague, Schoharie, state Sen. Jim Seward, Milford, Langworthy, Molinaro, county Rep. Peter Oberacker, Schenevus, the endorsed candidate to succeed Seward, Bobby Walker of Cooperstown, chairman of the state Federation of College Republicans, and Seward aide Josh Bailey, Oneonta. Langworthy, from Erie County, succeeded Ed Cox as the party’s state chair last July 1. Molinaro was reelected in November to another term as Dutchess County executive. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ART EXHIBIT – 5 – 7 p.m. “An Artistic Discovery” Congressional Exhibit for Otsego County high school students opens at the CAA, On display through March 27. Cooperstown Art Association, 22 Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER – 5:30 p.m. After several years, the World Day Of Prayer is being marked again with a service, featuring Zimbabwean songs, at The Salvation Army Church, 25 River St., Oneonta. Elm Park UM and First United Presbyterian “Red Door” pastors are helping organize the event, with other local churches supporting it. A rehearsal for participants to learn the Zimbabwean songs is at 4:30.
Cardinals, Braves and Brewers catcher Ted Simmons, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame July 26, appeared awestruck as he reviewed the plaques of colleagues during his orientation tour of 25 Main St. this morning. On retiring, Simmons led all catchers in career hits and doubles and ranked second in RBIs behind Yogi Berra and second in total bases behind Carlton Fisk. His was the second orientation tour of Class of 2020 members, following Larry Walker on Tuesday. Eric Strohl, the Hall’s vice president, Exhibitions & Collections, led the tour, stopping first at fellow Cardinal Bob Gibson’s, a pitcher. “He showed me what a Major League pitcher could do,” said Simmons, who at the time of a 20-year-old rookie. With Derek Jeter in the class, this year’s Induction crowd might break Cal Ripken Jr.’s record of 84,000. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Larry Walker, only the second Canadian to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, pauses a few minutes ago at Ferguson Jenkins‘ plaque. Fergie, until now the first Canadian in the U.S. Hall, was inducted in 1991, after joining the Canadian Hall in 1987. Walker will be on the stage next to the Clark Sports Center this July 26 during Induction Weekend, when he will be inducted along with Derek Jeter. He was the first member of this year’s class to go through the standard Hall orientation. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
PERFORMANCE – 9 – 10:30 p.m. ‘Step Afrika’ performs dance that uses the human body as an instrument as practiced by traditionally African American fraternities, sororities and incorporates song, story telling, audience participation. Admission, $3/person. Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta.
VALENTINES DANCE – 6 p.m. Throw on cowboy boots, bring that special someone for fun line dancing class. Includes admission to Valentines HIGH Fitness at 7:15. Cost, $10/non-member. Oneonta YMCA, 20-26 Ford Ave., Oneonta. 607-432-0010 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaFamilyYMCA/
COOPERSTOWN – The Baseball Hall of Fame is introducing “Starting Nine: The Must-See Artifacts from Your Team” for visitors in 2020, highlighting nine pieces for each team among the collection of tens of thousands of artifacts preserved in Cooperstown.
“’Starting Nine’ personalizes the museum experience to each visitor’s own memories, keying in on unique pieces from the Hall of Fame’s immense collection of the game’s history,” said Tim Mead, Hall of Fame president. “We want fans of every team to say, ‘Wow! You have that?’”
COOPERSTOWN – It was the moment baseball fans have been waiting for – and expecting: Derek Jeter has been named to the 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Derek Jeter is one of the most respected ballplayers of his generation,” said Tim Mead, Hall of Fame president, on the MLB Network Tuesday evening, Jan. 21, in his first induction announcement since taking the helm last summer.
“He has defined consistency and leadership and joins a distinguished list of Yankee greats as he takes his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Widely anticipated to be inducted in his first year of eligibility, Yankees shortstop Jeter received 396 of the 397 votes cast, just one vote shy of unanimous and second only to former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera’s 100 percent in 2019.
Joining him in the Hall of Plaques is Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker, the first Rockies player to enter the Hall of Fame and only the second Canadian player to do so. He received 304 votes (76.6 percent) on his tenth and final year on the ballot.
“Walker has always been respected for his instincts,” said Mead.
Both will be honored as part of the Hall’s Induction Weekend July 24-27 in Cooperstown, along with catcher Ted Simmons and the late Major League Players Association executive director Marvin Miller, who were elected in December by the Modern Baseball Era Committee.
Also being honored that weekend will be the Ford C. Frick Award winner for broadcasting, Ken Harrelson, and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner for writing, the late Nick Cafardo.
Jeter, 45, spent all 20 of his MLB seasons with the Yankees, 1995-2014, was a member of five World Series championship teams, captained the Yankees from 2003 through the end of his career and finished with 3,465 hits, the sixth highest total in history.
He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1996, was the runner-up for the AL Most Valuable Player Award in 2006 and finished third in AL MVP voting twice, in 1998 and 2009, and won five Gold Glove Awards for fielding.
He also won the Hank Aaron Award for hitting in 2006 and ’09, the Roberto Clemente Award for community service in 2009 and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for philanthropy in 2011.
Born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Walker, 53, batted .313 with 383 home runs over 17 seasons with Montreal, Colorado and St. Louis. A five-time All-Star, Walker was the National League MVP in 1997, won seven Gold Glove Awards for fielding and three Silver Slugger Awards as an outfielder.
With 70 percent of the vote, pitcher Curt Schilling once again failed to meet the 75 percent criteria. Roger Clemens received 61 percent of the vote Barry Bonds received 60.7 and shortstop Omar Vizquel received 52.6.
As expected, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was announced as one of the 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees.
COOPERSTOWN – In their first and last years of eligibility, respectively, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Expos outfielder Larry Walker were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this evening.
Jeter received 99.7 percent of the vote, falling one vote shy of unanimous. Walker, only the second Canadian to enter the Hall of Fame, received 76.6 percent of the vote. The Baseball Hall of Fame Induction will be held Sunday, July 26 at the Clark Sports Center.
DOCUMENTARY – 7 – 9 p.m. Showing ‘King In The Wilderness’ depicting the final chapters of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he deals with criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Discussion to follow. Red Dragon Theater, SUNY Oneonta.
COOPERSTOWN – Ken Harrelson will be honored with the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting, and the late Nick Cafardo, for the J.G. Spink Award for “meritorious contributions to baseball writing” Saturday, July 25, during the 2020 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
A five-time Emmy Award winner, Harrelson became a Chicago icon while calling White Sox games for 34 of his 43 years behind the mic.
Born Sept. 4, 1941, in Woodruff, S.C., and raised in Savannah, Ga., Harrelson was a star amateur athlete in several sports before signing with the Kansas City Athletics in 1959 following a heated bidding war. After stellar seasons in the minor leagues in 1961 and 1962, Harrelson debuted with the Athletics midway through the 1963 campaign. With Kansas City, he helped popularize the batting glove, which quickly became standard issue for most big leaguers.
HOLIDAY PARADE – 3 p.m. Celebrate the holidays on Main St. Line up at 3, parade at 4. Main St., Oneonta. Visit www.foothillspac.org
TREE FESTIVAL – 3 – 7 p.m. View Christmas Trees beautifully decorated by area individuals, businesses. Production Center, Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit www.foothillspac.org
TREE LIGHTING – 5:30 – 8 p.m. Celebrate the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Muller Plaza, Oneonta.
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – From The Salvation Army and The Freeman’s Journal thank you to all the sponsors who have made this Christmas a little brighter this year for our families in need!
CONTRADANCE – 7:30 p.m. Fun group dance to music by Tailwind with caller Robby Poulette. 1st Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cooperstown. 607-547-8164 or visit otsegodancesociety.weebly.com
COOPERSTOWN – The annual Hall of Fame Classic weekend at the Baseball Hall of Fame has been cancelled, Jon Shestakofsky, Communications VP, announced moments ago.
