Hall of Fame Electees take over Cooperstown day before Induction

OTSEGO, N.Y. (WBNG) - The Baseball Hall of Fame electees began their Saturday, June 20, meeting with the media at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. Joe Mauer and Todd Helton had this to say about nerves coming into the weekend.

“First couple days, a lot of nerves, anxiousness, getting ready for Sunday,” said Mauer. “But as teammates, family, friends have started rolling in, I’ve started to relax a little bit.”

“That has made it a lot easier,” said Helton. “I was really nervous about meeting the other Hall of Famers, and they’ve been great.”

The media session was followed by the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation. The late Gerry Fraley was honored with the America Career Excellence Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing. Red Sox voice Joe Castiglione also received the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. Castiglione talked about who has had the biggest impact on his career.

“Definitely, number one, Bell Allen, my broadcaster,” said Castiglione. “Red Barber, first two elected in 1978, one and two, Ernie Harwell, who mentored me, a very special friend.”

The Awards Ceremony wrapped up with a Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry discussion with former Yankees Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre, and former Red Sox Hall of Famer David “Big Papi” Ortiz. The day concluded with a parade down Main Street as Hall of Famers greeted the mass crowd of fans that had gathered in Cooperstown for the weekend. Hall of Fame electee Adrián Beltré also spoke about the support from the Dominican Republic.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s coming soon,” said Beltré. “Like I said before, my first time here in Cooperstown, that was the thing I wanted to go visit, the Juan Marichal plaque, the first Dominican, who pioneered for us.”

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Sunday, June 21, at 1:30 P.M on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center.