For baseball fans, Night at the Museum in Cooperstown, New York, is an experience like no other.
Now in its fourth season, this special, two-hour meet and greet with baseball legends at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a highlight of induction weekend. It’s a time when fans can talk—up close and personal—with former players and Hall of Famers. Special programs and interactions abound, and, while the event is not an autograph session, fans are encouraged to bring their cameras to preserve their memories of the unique opportunity.
Because individual tickets to the event are sold out, getting involved in a Sports Travel and Tours’ trip is the best way to gain access. We have a travel package that will be sure to take you where the action is. The Hall of Fame Classic Weekend package includes tickets to the Classic and the popular Home Run Derby at noon, as well as admission to Night at the Museum.
Twenty-three players have already committed to appear in the Classic, alongside Hall of Famers Phil Niekro and Ozzie Smith, who will serve as team captains. Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers, Fergie Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg will serve as coaches. To see which of your idols might be in this year’s lineup, click here.
With a population of roughly 2,000, the tiny village of Cooperstown, nestled on the shores of Otsego Lake in New York, may seem like nothing out of the ordinary to the untrained eye.
But to the bibliophile, it is the home of novelist James Fenimore Cooper, best known for writing The Last of the Mohicans. To the art enthusiast, it is home of the Fenimore Art Museum, housing one of the country’s premier folk art collections. And, to those with a passion for baseball, it is the home of the nation’s great pastime and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Baseball fans who have a trip to Cooperstown marked on their bucket list will not be disappointed, as Cooperstown does not take its role as the home of the sport lightly. Each year, the village hosts a Hall of Fame Classic game and a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, drawing together the baseball legends responsible for some of the greatest moments in the sport’s history.
Now in its eight year, the Classic—a seven-inning game at historic Doubleday Field—will feature six Hall of Fame members as well as players representing all 30 major league teams. It will be held Saturday, May 28 starting at 1 p.m., with fan-favorite events before and after.
While in Cooperstown, travelers will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express, putting them near the area’s top attractions and businesses and just three miles away from the Hall of Fame. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning during your three-day, two-night stay (from Friday to Sunday) in this recently renovated hotel. Additional pre-trip and post-trip nights are optional.
Also included in the trip package is a trip souvenir, 24-hour trip assistance, admission to the Hall of Fame, a car rental with unlimited mileage and a one-year membership to the Hall of Fame, which entitles you to a subscription to Memories and Dreams magazine, a Hall of Fame yearbook and a 10 percent discount on purchases from the museum’s store.
Still, the Hall of Fame Classic weekend is full of events catering to the interests of the whole family, as well as many that are not currently a part of Sports Travel and Tours’ trip itinerary.
For children ages seven to 12, the Cooperstown Classic Clinic provides the chance to receive hands-on training from several former major leaguers. The clinic will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 27 at Doubleday Field and while the event is free, participants must pre-register by calling the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Membership Department at (607) 547-0397.
Immediately following the Classic, families can spend time playing a good old-fashioned game of catch on the same diamond as baseball’s legends. Although the sessions—from 4 to 4:20 p.m. or from 4:30 to 4:50 p.m.—are free to Classic ticket holders, advance registration online is required.
If you’re looking to get away for a weekend of all things baseball, Sports Travel and Tours’ Hall of Fame Classic Weekend trip and/or the Hall of Fame Induction Plus trip is for you! Follow the links to learn more.