April 2, 2009 8:01 pm

Hall of Famers to Play, Sign Autographs

The Hall of Fame Game is gone, but the Hall of Famers are coming to a new event in Cooperstown this summer.

It won’t be a card show, but some big name guests will be around–and ready to sign for the lucky group that snares tickets to watch retired big leaguers play ball in Cooperstown this June.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will welcome five Hall of Fame members to headline the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame Classic, presented by Ford Motor Company, on Sunday, June 21, at Doubleday Field. The Classic highlights an entire weekend of what’s being called “family-friendly events designed for baseball fans of all ages”, to take place at the Museum and throughout Cooperstown.

The first-ever Classic Weekend will feature Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Ferguson Jenkins, Paul Molitor, Phil Niekro and Brooks Robinson, along with 20 other former Major League stars in a seven-inning exhibition game, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. on Father’s Day. The game will be preceded by the Cooperstown Game Day Parade at noon and a hitting contest featuring several former Major Leaguers at 1 p.m.

20 other former Major Leaguers will be added soon to fill out rosters. Players will be available for autographs and mingling with fans when not on the field.

Tickets for the Classic are .50 for first- and third-base seats and for outfield seats. Tickets will first be made available on Saturday, April 18, with a one-day sale at the Museum, beginning at 10 a.m. Approximately 2,500 tickets will be made available during this one-day, in-person sale. Museum Members may purchase tickets over the phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling a special number active only for this sale: 1-866-849-7770.

Among the 20 other recently retired players already committed to participate in the Classic include former Major League stars George Foster, Bill Lee, Steve Rogers and Lee Smith. Additional participants will be announced throughout the spring.

The Classic will be preceded by the Cooperstown Game Day Parade, presented by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, the village of Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, beginning at noon on Main Street. Hall of Famers and Classic game participants will ride in trolleys in the parade to Doubleday Field.

The Baseball Hall of Fame Classic highlights an entire weekend of family events, both at Doubleday Field and within the Museum. On Saturday, June 20, the Classic Weekend kicks off with a unique opportunity for a family catch at Doubleday Field. A limited number of participants can register for a “catch” at Doubleday Field from 12-2 p.m. Registration for the Family Catch begins on Tuesday, May 26, exclusively for Members by phone, by calling 607-547-0397.

Also on Saturday afternoon, exclusively for Members ages 12 and under, the Museum and the MLBPAA will present the Legends for Youth Skills Clinic, to be held at Doubleday Field, from 3-6 p.m. Registration for the Youth Skills Clinic begins on Tuesday, May 26, exclusively for Members by phone, by calling 607-….

On Saturday evening, a special Father’s Day edition of the Voices of the Game program, featuring the five Hall of Famers, will take place at 7 p.m. in the Hall of Fame’s Grandstand Theater. Tickets for the Voices of the Game event will first be made available to members on May 26 by calling 607-547-0397.