Induction Day at Cooperstown

Nearly every year since 1939, baseball’s most outstanding players, umpires, pioneers and executives have been enshrined at Cooperstown in a public ceremony attracting thousands of fans from across (and sometimes beyond) the United States. Whether conferred by the Baseball Writers Association of America, the Veterans Committee, or in the case of 17 Negro League greats in 2006, an ad hoc committee of historians, Hall of Fame membership is the game’s highest honor. This book covers the origins and history of the Hall of Fame museum and its election process, provides general information on each year’s class and induction ceremony, and includes concise biographical and career discussion for every Hall of Famer, as well as commentary on his (Effa Manley is the lone female) path to election, and highlights of his speech.

Dennis Corcoran is a historian specializing in the Benedict Arnold and John Andre conspiracy during the American Revolution. A retired New York State teacher and a member of the Casey Stengel (Greater New York) Chapter of SABR, he lives in Pleasantville, New York.

Dennis Corcoran
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 282
Bibliographic Info: 45 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4416-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9147-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      ix

Preface      1

Introduction      5

1. Abner Graves and Not Abner Doubleday      7

2. Alexander Cleland and the People of Cooperstown Pull It Off      10

3. June 12, 1939—Where Is Ty Cobb?      21

4. Where Is Everybody? 1940–1949      39

5. Joe DiMaggio Isn’t a First Ballot Hall of Famer? 1950–1959      54

6. Ted Williams’ Historic Speech: 1960–1969      73

7. The Negro Leagues Are Given Full Recognition: 1970–1979      97

8. The Hall of Fame Celebrates Its Golden Anniversary: 1980–1989      131

9. 50,000 People Come to See “The Ryan Express,” “Baby Bull,” George and Robin Too: 1990–1999      161

10. The Hall of Fame Welcomes Its First Woman Inductee and Cal and Tony Draw 75,000 People: 2000–2009      196

The 2010 Induction Class      241

Afterword      242

Appendix 1. Hall of Fame Induction Roster      245

Appendix 2. Award Recipients      251

Appendix 3. Official Score of Baseball Centennial Game      252

Chapter Notes      255

Bibliography      259

Index      261