In response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced that its 2020 Hall of Fame Classic Weekend events, scheduled for May 22-24, have been cancelled.
Among the events that will no longer take place include the annual Legends Game, Night at the Museum program and BASE Race charity runs. Fans who purchased tickets to these events will receive a refund.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown was previously closed to the public, and will remain so indefinitely as large gatherings in New York and several other states have been banned.
The Hall of Fame will provide updates each Sunday at 9 a.m., starting on March 22. The closure updates will be shared on the Hall of Fame’s website and social media channels.
As of now, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony/weekend is still slated to take place on July 24-27. Derek Jeter and Larry Walker consist of this year’s class, while Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons will additionally be honored after being voted in by the Modern Era Committee.
The coronavirus outbreak has led to many professional sports leagues temporarily suspending operations for the time being. That includes Major League Baseball, who initially canceled all remaining Spring Training games and imposed a minimum two-week delay to the start of the regular season.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has since ruled out April 9 as a potential target for Opening Day in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizing citizens exercise “social distancing” for the next eight weeks.
“Following last night’s newly updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, the opening of the 2020 regular season will be pushed back in accordance with that guidance,” MLB said in a statement.
“MLB will keep fans updated on decisions regarding plans for the 2020 schedule in the days and weeks ahead. The Clubs remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins.
“We will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts, and urge all baseball fans to follow suit. MLB extends its best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by the coronavirus.”
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