Hall of Fame Induction Weekend 2008 - July 25-28

Goose Gossage, Dick Williams Highlight Class of 2008

The Class of 2008

The Class of 2008 is made up of Goose Gossage, Bowie Kuhn, Walter O'Malley, Barney Dreyfuss, Billy Southworth and Dick Williams.

The 2008 Hall of Fame Weekend will be held July 25-28, in Cooperstown, N.Y., with the induction slated for Sunday, July 27.

Rich "Goose" Gossage will join manager Dick Williams, as well as posthumous Veterans Committee electees Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, manager Billy Southworth and team executives Barney Dreyfuss (Pirates) and Walter O'Malley (Dodgers) as members of the Class of 2008.

Additionally, the late Boston Globe writer Larry Whiteside and Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus will also be honored.


The first-ever Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award -- with O'Neil being the recipient -- will be awarded, and a statue of O'Neil will also be dedicated in the Museum over the weekend.

Important Info

  • Induction Ceremony — Sunday, July 27, 2008
    1:30 p.m. at the Clark Sports Center, 124 Susquehanna Avenue
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Accommodations — The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum recommends you contact the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce for information on accommodations for Hall of Fame Weekend.
  • Become a Member today to receive Induction Weekend benefits.

Induction Headlines

Sights and Sounds

Closing great Goose Gossage spoke to the media via conference call prior to his Induction Ceremony on July 27. Listen

Dick Williams was made available to the media via a conference call 10 days before his induction into the Hall of Fame. Listen

Upcoming inductee Rich "Goose" Gossage returned to the Hall of Fame and Cooperstown for the first time in 34 years. Watch

Dick Williams, manager of two World Series champions, gets a private tour of the Hall of Fame in advance of his induction. Watch

CLASS OF 2008
Goose Gossage
With a handlebar mustache, an untamed mane and an all-business attitude, Rich "Goose" Gossage was among the first pitchers to take on the closer role.
Complete story >
'08 BBWAA election > 		Dick Williams
A manager for 21 seasons with six different teams, Dick Williams earned 1571 wins with 1451 losses, winning five division flags, four league championships and two World Series. Complete story >
Bio >
Barney Dreyfuss
An influential team owner and policy maker, Barney Dreyfuss was both an innovator and one of the best informed men regarding baseball goings-on at the turn of the century.
Complete story >
Bio > 		Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn was one of the game's most influential figures of the latter 20th century and his tenure as Commissioner was the third longest in baseball history. Complete story >
Bio >
Walter O'Malley
Walter O'Malley is considered the most influential club owner of baseball's early expansion era, serving as the catalyst for expansion by moving the Dodgers out west.
Complete story >
Bio > 		Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth compiled a brilliant resume in a 13-year managerial career, winning four NL pennants and steering the Cardinals to World Series titles in 1942 and '44.
Complete story >
Bio >


Schedule of Events

Friday, July 25, 2008
8:30 a.m. ET: PLAY Ball with Ozzie Smith
It's the "Players, Legends and You" in Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith's annual fun on the field to raise funds for the Museum's education programs. Join the Wizard and his special guests for two hours of non-stop interaction. Each participant receives time on the field with the renowned players, as well as mementos of the occasion. Details, including other participants, pricing and reservation information, will be announced at a later date.

1:30 p.m. ET: Legends for Youth Skills Clinic
Children can spend the afternoon enhancing their baseball skills with former Major Leaguers on historic Doubleday Field. Details, including participating players and registration information, will be announced at a later date.

Saturday, July 26, 2008
3:00 p.m. ET: Connecting Generations
The popular "Connecting Generations" returns for 2008 with an all-new format. This program allows visitors to compete in a fun trivia contest with Hall of Famers. Afterward, selected fans may ask questions of the Hall of Famers on stage. Details, including participating Hall of Famers and ticketing information, will be announced at a later date.

8:00 p.m. ET: Red Carpet Arrivals
Join the pageantry and excitement of the red carpet arrivals at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Enjoy musical entertainment, participate in trivia contests and most exciting of all, watch as the Hall of Famers arrive on trolleys and walk the red carpet on the way to their private reception. Please note: Fans begin to gather around 6 p.m. with festivities starting at 8 p.m. Hall of Famers will begin to arrive between 9 and 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 27, 2008
2008 Induction Ceremony
Open to the public and free of charge, the 2008 Induction Ceremony honors Rich "Goose" Gossage, Dick Williams, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn, Walter O'Malley and Billy Southworth. Weather permitting, the ceremony takes place on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center, located on lower Susquehanna Avenue.

Monday, July 28, 2008
ESPN Legends Event
Two of the Hall of Fame's newest members, Rich "Goose" Gossage and Dick Williams, participate in a televised ESPN Legends Event. This event is for Members only. Details, including ticketing information, will be announced at a later date.

Future Hall of Fame Weekends

To best serve baseball fans and their vacation plans, we have announced the dates several years in advance. The dates for future Hall of Fame Weekends are as follows:

2009: July 24-27, with Induction Ceremonies on Sunday, July 26
2010: July 23-26, with Induction Ceremonies on Sunday, July 25

Provided that they remain retired, the following is a partial list of former Major League ballplayers who will become eligible for consideration by the BBWAA for election into the Hall of Fame in upcoming years. Players eligible after they have been retired from Major League Baseball for five full seasons. For example, those players eligible for consideration in 2009 will have played their final game in 2003. Those players eligible for consideration in 2010 will have last played in 2004, etc.

Year   *Players eligible for the first time for BBWAA election
2009:   Steve Avery, Jay Bell, Mike Bordick, John Burkett, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Rickey Henderson, Todd Hundley, Orlando Merced, Denny Neagle, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Rick Reed, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn, Matt Williams
2010:   Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Andy Ashby, Ellis Burks, Dave Burba, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McLemore, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, Robin Ventura, Fernando Vina, Todd Zeile
2011:   Wilson Alvarez, Carlos Baerga, Jeff Bagwell, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, Cal Eldred, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Marquis Grissom, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, Jose Offerman, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Paul Quantrill, Steve Reed, Kirk Rueter, Rey Sanchez, Benito Santiago, B.J. Surhoff, Ugueth Urbina, Ismael Valdez, Larry Walker, Dan Wilson
2012:   Pedro Astacio, David Bell, Jeromy Burnitz, Vinny Castilla, Scott Erickson, Carl Everett, Jeff Fassero, Alex S. Gonzalez, Danny Graves, Rick Helling, Dustin Hermanson, Jose Hernandez, Brian Jordan, Matt Lawton, Bill Mueller, Terry Mulholland, Jeff Nelson, Phil Nevin, Brad Radke, Joe Randa, Tim Salmon, Ruben Sierra, J.T. Snow, Jose Vizcaino, Bernie Williams, Eric Young
2013:   Sandy Alomar Jr., Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Jeff Cirillo, Royce Clayton, Roger Clemens, Jeff Conine, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Ryan Klesko, Mike Lieberthal, Kenny Lofton, Jose Mesa, Damian Miller, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz, Neifi Perez, Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Aaron Sele, Mike Stanton, Todd Walker, David Wells, Rondell White, Bob Wickman, Woody Williams

*Please note that this is not necessarily a complete listing, players are not necessarily guaranteed to be on the final BBWAA ballot, and players may return to active duty after they have retired or missed time.