Press Release: Hall of Fame Will Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with Military Classic Game Memorial Day Weekend

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 12, 2026

--  Hall of Famers and Recently Retired Big League Stars to Participate  in Legends Game to be Played May 23 at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field  in Return of Holiday Tradition -- (COOPERSTOWN, NY) – As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will pay tribute to the men and women who made it possible during an unforgettable Memorial Day Weekend. Historic Doubleday Field will play host to the Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice on Saturday, May 23, in Cooperstown. The seven-inning legends game will feature more than two dozen former big leaguers along with Hall of Famers who will serve as managers and coaches. The game will return the tradition of Memorial Day Weekend contests in Cooperstown.   “The bond between the United States and baseball remains as vibrant as ever as our nation observes its 250th year in 2026,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “The Hall of Fame is proud to honor the service and sacrifice of military members at the Hall of Fame Military Classic in a game that will bring fans, players and Hall of Famers to the home of baseball in this historic summer.”   Hall of Famers committed to appear at the May 23 Hall of Fame Military Classic include Rollie Fingers and Joe Torre, with additional Hall of Famers and players to be announced in the coming weeks.   Also participating will be members of the Louisville Slugger Warriors, an amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. military veterans, active duty personnel and wounded warriors.   Tickets for the Hall of Fame Military Classic are on sale now online or at 1-888-325-0470 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.   Memorial Day Weekend in Cooperstown will also feature the Hall of Fame’s popular Night at the Ballpark program. Hall of Fame legends and former players will greet fans throughout Doubleday Field on Saturday, May 23, beginning at 6 p.m., with Hall of Famers participating alongside other former major league stars. While the Night at the Ballpark program is not an autograph session, fans should remember to bring their camera to capture their special memories.   Tickets for Night at the Ballpark are on sale now, priced at $100 each and limited to 12 tickets per order. Click here to reserve tickets.   Also as part of the weekend, guests can golf with legends at historic Leatherstocking Golf Course on Otsego Lake. Participants will enjoy an unforgettable day of golf. Individuals, pairs or foursomes of all skill levels are welcome to join the Hall of Fame Memorial Day Weekend Golf Tournament. A Hall of Fame member or former major leaguer will join each foursome and serve as the team captain.   A fundraiser for the Museum, the scramble-format tournament highlights a full lineup of activities for participants during this unforgettable weekend. For more information on supporting the Hall of Fame through this exclusive golf outing, please call 607-547-0310.   The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has teamed up with Sports Travel and Tours to offer baseball fans a one-stop opportunity to purchase Military Classic Weekend travel packages. For more information or to plan a trip to Cooperstown, please call 1-888-310-HALL (4255). Membership participants receive a 5% discount on all their baseball travel packages.   For more information on Memorial Day Weekend programming, please visit baseballhall.org/hofclassic.   The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an independent nonprofit educational institution, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of baseball and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections for a global audience as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to our National Pastime. Opening its doors for the first time on June 12, 1939, the Hall of Fame has stood as the definitive repository of the game’s treasures and as a symbol of the most profound individual honor bestowed on an athlete. It is every fan’s “Field of Dreams,” with its stories, legends and magic shared from generation to generation.