Hall of Famer and Detroit Tiger great Alan Trammel has a high-five for Milwaukee Brewers’ star Trevor Hoffman at the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic. Photo courtesy of Milo V. Stewart, Jr.
Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins told his Twitter following that he “can’t wait!” for Memorial Day Weekend when the Hall of Fame Classic returns to Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field after a two-year pandemic absence.
Tickets for the Saturday, May 28 game are on sale now for fans who want to see Mr. Jenkins, along with Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Jack Morris, Tim Raines, and Ted Simmons play a seven-inning
By CHARLIE VASCELLARO • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
One of 19 catchers elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ted Simmons belatedly joins his contemporaries: Johnny Bench (1967 to 1983, inducted 1989); Carlton Fisk (1969 to 1993, inducted 2000); and Gary Carter (1974 to 1992, inducted 2003), all of whom played in a golden age for the position.
Largely overlooked by the voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in his first year of eligibility in 1994 Simmons received just 3.7% of the requisite 5% in order to remain on the ballot.
Simmons spent a generation in candidacy purgatory until his name was included on the Modern Era Committee ballot for the first time in 2018, falling one vote shy of the 12 needed to gain the 75% necessary for election. The third time proved to be a charm for Simmons who received 13 votes on the 2019 ballot, joined by long time MLBPA (union) Executive Director Marvin Miller.
COOPERSTOWN — Following last week’s announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that lifted significant COVID-19 restrictions, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced Monday, June 21, that tickets will not be needed for free lawn seating for the Wednesday, Sept. 8, induction ceremony.
The ceremony was rescheduled from its traditional last Sunday in July to an event at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8, on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center in the town of Middlefield.
The event will celebrate the inductions of Class of 2020 members Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker and will be broadcast live exclusively on MLB Network.
Since 1992, the event 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 to 2019. The second-largest crowd on record – an estimated 55,000 people – attended the Hall of Fame’s last induction, July 21, 2019.
BASEBALL – Noon. Virtual Voices of the Game to honor Hall of Fame 2020 inductee Ted Simmons who played alongside hall of famers Paul Molitor and Robin Yount for the Milwaukee Brewers. Join them as they reminisce about the Brewers team and their journey to the Hall of Fame. Visit baseballhall.org/events/virtual-legends-of-the-game-Ted-Simmons?date=0 for details.
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)
Ted Simmons is flanked by Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark and Hall President Tim Mead at yesterday’s announcement.Marvin Miller in his heyday.
COOPERSTOWN – Marvin Miller, who as leader of the MLB Players Association established free agency, turning players into tycoons, will enter the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020. He will be inducted posthumously Sunday, July 26.
He was elected yesterday by the Modern Era Committee, along with Ted Simmons, 70, an eight-time All-Star catcher who played 13 seasons with St. Louis.
The Baseball Writers of America’s picks, expected to include Yankee Derek Jeter, will be announced in mid-January.
