With Major League Baseball suspending Spring Training operations and delaying the start of the 2020 season by at least two weeks, the ripple effect has reached the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The museum announced plans to close to the general public beginning Sunday at 2 p.m. PT. 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.
Their measure of course is in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has swept across the globe. Beyond American sports leagues coming to a halt, several states have suggested limiting large gatherings.
Last week, New York officials instituted an indefinite ban on most gatherings of more than 500 people. That primarily impacted Broadway shows, which are suspended.
Although the initial timeline provided by MLB points to April 9 being the earliest the season will begin, there is a sense Opening Day will not be held until May. That became particularly true in the wake of MLB suspending spring camps.
Players were given the option to remain in the city of their Spring Training facility, head to their team’s hometown, or depart to their offseason home. The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for players to continue working out at Camelback Ranch and for some players to head for L.A.
“I think right now the health and well being of everybody and their families — some guys have their families here and are going to want to stay,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.
“Others are going to want to go home, some are going to want to go to L.A. From our standpoint, it’s about facilitating whatever our guys choose to do and support them the best that we can as we continue to learn more.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously said players were “pretty adamant” about wanting to remain at Camelback Ranch. Matt Beaty is one of the Dodgers who has publicly been identified as deciding to stay in Arizona.
However, MLB has since informed teams that organized workouts and activities that will lead to players gathering is not permitted. The guidelines are in conjunction with “social distancing” recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our live shows, and more!
