Baseball Hall of Fame postpones 2020 induction ceremony until next year

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (UPI) — The Baseball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that it has canceled this year’s induction ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Induction Weekend is a celebration of our national pastime and its greatest legends, and while we are disappointed to cancel this incredibly special event, the board of directors’ overriding concern is the health and well-being of our new inductees, our Hall of Fame members, our wonderful fans and the hundreds of staff it takes to present the weekend’s events in all of its many facets,” Jane Forbes Clark, chairperson for the Hall, said in a statement.

“In heeding the advice of government officials as well as federal, state and local medical and scientific experts, we chose to act with extraordinary caution in making this decision.”

This year’s induction ceremony was scheduled for July 26. Instead, the 2020 class will be included at the 2021 induction festivities, along with any additional inductees. If anyone new is elected to the Hall next year, it would be the first ceremony since 1949 to combine multiple classes.

Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and ex-Colorado Rockies slugger Larry Walker were to be inducted with catcher Ted Simmons and the late Marvin Miller in July.

This will be the first year without an induction ceremony since 1960. The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum temporarily shut its doors in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Reporting by Connor Grott

United Press International

+ postsBio

United Press International is an international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the 20th century.

• United Press International

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/upi/

  Amazon to hire 250,000 workers for holidays
• United Press International

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/upi/

  14 dead after plane crashes in Amazon
• United Press International

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/upi/

  Coinbase to lay off more than 900 employees
• United Press International

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/upi/

  Samsung announces disappointing 3Q results