In this post, I comment on my experience being part of the media contingent covering the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 27, 2025.

I attended the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony once before – in 1995 as a fan witnessing Phillies greats Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn being welcomed to Cooperstown. I returned for the 2025 induction ceremony as a member of the media representing the Wilkes-Barre, PA, Times Leader newspaper. 

I traveled to Cooperstown, NY, to finish telling the story of Dick Allen’s long journey to finally be elected to the Hall of Fame. Much more on that to come. Here, though, I share some of my observations and thoughts from experiencing the ceremony from the inside.

• The late Dick Allen waited a long time to finally be inducted into the Hall of Fame. So, moving the induction ceremony back one hour for the rainclouds over Cooperstown to clear did not stop Dick’s family, friends, former teammates, and others from rejoicing.
• Seeing the excitement of induction weekend makes the absence of Dave Parker, who passed away last month, even more regrettable. Like Allen, Parker should have been elected to the Hall of Fame many years ago.
• There are plenty of Ichiro Suzuki jerseys in the crowd and a considerable Japanese representation here in the media center. That is great for baseball, Japan, and the United States.
• I am here with my brother-in-law, Doug Hill, and my brother-from-another-mother, Thom Russ. They will be out among the crowd and I’ve put them to work getting crowd reactions. Thom is repping the Phillies, including a black #15 patch the Phillies wore on their uniforms following Allen’s death nearly five years ago. Doug is wearing his CC Sabathia t-shirt and Yankees hat, so he is representing his favorite team very well. Doug grew up in the Newark area, so Thom and I – both Philadelphia fans – have to forgive him for his NY Yankees and NY Giants allegiances.
• I am writing my notes while sitting in the media center the old-fashioned way – pen on paper. Most of the media are using their laptops. I often write that way, too, but there is something special about writing by hand that makes me feel the words better. I like to do notes and some first drafts by hand – and then take advantage of modern technology to finish.
• Even on the day the Hall of Fame is inducting five new members, many in the media center are talking about Pete Rose and when he will finally be elected into the HOF. When one of the Hall’s committees finally votes Rose in, I hope they also induct Shoeless Joe Jackson – who has been denied election for more than a century. More to come on that on another day.
• So happy for CC Sabathia, who is definitely a deserving member of the HOF. Whenever I see him, though, I think back to the 2008 National League playoffs between the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers. Phillies pitcher Brett Myers came to the plate with two runners on base (yes, those were the days when pitchers still hit in the NL). Myers was outmatched but managed to foul off multiple pitches before working his way to a base on balls. That loaded the bases for Shane Victorino, who then hit a grand slam home run off Sabathia, and the Phillies won the game and the series.
• The HOF planned well in advance by recently opening a new exhibit, Yakyu/Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of The Game, on the museum’s third floor. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser, especially for the many Ichiro fans visiting Cooperstown.
• When I attended the induction ceremony in 1995, the then-record estimated crowd of 40,000 was a sea of red Phillies hats and red and white pinstripe Phillies jerseys. In 2007, though, a record estimated 82,000 fans packed Cooperstown for the induction of Cal Ripken, Jr., of the Baltimore Orioles and Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres. That’s a record likely to stand for a long time, since I have no idea how they could fit any more people into this small community and outdoor induction space.
• I attended the 1995 ceremony with my brother, Carl Jolley, who passed away in 2015 from ALS. Thom Russ and my nephew, Joe Walton, were also there that day. Definitely missing Carl today but, as always, I feel he is here with me in spirit. Carl studied at Temple University in Philadelphia (Class of 1967), so he watched Dick Allen play in numerous games at old Connie Mack Stadium. I know Carl would be pleased to see Dick finally enshrined in the HOF. And a big shout-out and thank you to Major League Baseball for the tremendous ongoing commitment to raising funds for ALS research and care.
• Thom brought his 1980 “We Win” headline copy of the Philadelphia Daily News along for the ride to Cooperstown. The paper features a photo of Tug McGraw raising his arms in triumph after striking out Willie Wilson of the Kansas City Royals to win the World Series Championship for the Phillies. Many Phillies have signed Thom’s paper, including Steve Carlton, Richie Ashburn, Greg Luzinski, Bob Boone, and Harry Kalas.
• I haven’t heard so much Japanese being spoken since a visit years ago to Niagara Falls, Canada, when a group of tourists from Japan arrived. Good to see how strong and popular baseball is in Japan, and also how Japanese players like Ichiro and Shohei Ohtani are representing MLB so well.
• Reporters from the Philadelphia area were talking about how bad the Phillies teams were “when they were kids” in the mid-1990s to mid-2000s. That’s nothing. I remember the Phillies 1964 collapse when a 10-game losing streak near the end of the season cost them the National League pennant. I was eight-years-old at the time and was crushed by the losses. I even dream about it once in a while to this day. The Phillies weren’t good again until the 1975 season and their 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1980 teams won the NL East. After years of playoff losses, the 1980 Phillies finally won the World Series Championship.
• Just ran into Jayson Stark, one of my favorite baseball writers. I always enjoy reading his work and recommend him to all baseball fans. Bobby Valentine is also here, flashing that great smile. He continues to be a great ambassador for baseball.
• There is a TV in the media center that is playing highlights and sharing the statistics of this year’s inductees. Nobody is watching; but I guess everyone here is already well aware of the accomplishments of Allen, Parker, Ichiro, Sabathia, and Wagner.
• Brian Kenny of the MLB Network, now in his eighth year as master of ceremonies for the induction event, is telling the crowd that Billy Wagner originally threw right-handed. Wagner made it to the HOF as a hard-throwing lefty.
• Saw a bunch of guys wearing t-shirts commemorating their induction weekend bachelor party celebration. That’s a groom and his friends doing it up right.
• Met up with Donald Eisnor of Norton, Massachusetts, attending his first induction ceremony to honor Ichiro. Donald, who was kind enough to get some sunscreen for me from the supply provided by Mike Schmidt and the Phillies (Schmidt is a skin-cancer survivor), was a longtime Boston Red Sox fan who now favors the Los Angeles Dodgers. He followed the Red Sox through 2004 when they finally won the World Series Championship. It was nice sitting with Donald and talking baseball throughout the afternoon.
• I was told Ichiro spent Saturday working out – including playing catch, long-toss, and hitting. He is in great shape and could probably go at least two-for-four in a game today if he put his mind to it. Harold Reynolds on MLB Network (their stage is nearby) just asked Seattle Mariners fans to cheer and the crowd erupted into a loud “Ich-eee-row” chant.
• Met three generations of Phillies fans here to support Dick Allen and the Allen family – Dan Egan of Warrington, PA, is here with his son, Tim Egan, and grandson, Tyler Egan. Dan said, “Dick Allen is a great example of a man succeeding when given the opportunity.” He also told me, “Nobody better mention Frank Thomas today!” He wasn’t referring to the HOF member Frank Thomas, but the Frank Thomas who played in the 1960s and famously got into a fight with Allen. So, we had a good laugh about that. What a great family! And young Tyler definitely looks like an athlete.
• Eric Davis is on-hand to support and remember his good friend, Dave Parker. Davis said it would take all day to share how much Parker helped him when Davis was a young player starting his major league career. “Dave was disappointed over the years at not being elected to the Hall of Fame,” Davis said. “But he knew inside that he was a Hall of Fame player and said his time would come…Jesus called him home before he could be inducted, but his time has finally come.”
• They are playing the song Centerfield by John Fogarty over the loudspeakers to get everyone fired up. Fogarty’s baseball bat guitar is on display in the Hall of Fame and Museum.
• HOF Chair Jane Forbes Clark honored Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg, who could not be here today as he is very ill. Prayers were lifted for “Ryno,” as he was called. (Note: Sandberg passed away one day later at age 65 from metastatic prostate cancer.)
• The HOF also remembered hall of famers who passed way since last year’s induction ceremony – Rickey Henderson and Dave Parker – with a moment of silence.
• Billy Wagner said he is proud to be the only Division Three College player to be enshrined in the baseball hall of fame. “God is great,” Wagner said in amazement. Wagner also said of Allen and Parker, “Dick and Dave, you were more than your numbers. I am so honored to go into the Hall of Fame with you.” Wagner thanked his many catchers over the years for making him “better and getting me to where I am today;” remarked he never closed out a minor league game and never started a major league game; and offered the following words of wisdom: “Obstacles are not roadblocks. Obstacles are stepping stones, so never stop working. Perseverance is the path to greatness.”
• Dave Parker, Jr., looks just like his Dad and did a tremendous job representing and honoring his father. He told of the elder Parker selling lemonade and hot dogs as a kid at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, and said his father referred to the “fans” as “friends.” The elder Parker passed away last month from Parkinson’s Disease and his son commented on the fight to cure this illness by saying, “We ain’t there yet, but we’re going to be one day.” He said his Dad died while working on his HOF speech, and it was his honor to speak on his father’s behalf.
• Willa Allen, Dick’s widow, also did a tremendous job with her induction acceptance speech. She said there were so many great stories she could tell, and shared the story of Dick Allen spending hours after a game talking to a young fan he named Baby Bro, who waited for him to leave the stadium. Allen stayed in touch with the boy who grew into a lifelong friend and attended the induction ceremony. Willa spoke lovingly of her husband, saying, “He is smiling right now, knowing his story is being recognized in this special way…His stats are only part of the story. Dick didn’t just give his time or his money to something, he gave his heart…Of all the places he played and enjoyed, Philadelphia was his favorite.” She mentioned that Dick befriended everyone, including the stadium workers, grounds crew, cooks, ushers, etc. “He cared for them and went out of his way for them” she remembered. Allen also had deep respect for the elderly and looked out for them. She thanked Phillies owner John Middleton for retiring Allen’s uniform number 15 – just four months before Allen passed away. “He never took baseball for granted,” she said. “And he always told young fans, ‘It’s not where you came from that’s important, it’s where you go.’”
• CC Sabathia focused on family in his induction speech, notably the many important women throughout his life who made a difference and helped him along the way. “I wanted to work at Marineland as a kid,” he said, “but my grandmother said no and that I should focus on baseball.” CC  learned about hard work and perseverance from his Mom. She told him there is always something better on the other side of the challenge – if you work for it. And he highlighted the love and support from his wife, saying he would not be here today if not for her constant faith and help. CC said his children are and always will be his greatest achievement. CC looks great, by the way, in-shape and energetic.
• Ichiro Suzuki eloquently delivered his speech in English rather than in his native Japanese. He said he is once again a rookie, this time on the HOF team, and “I hope I can uphold the values of the Hall of Fame.” Speaking about his records, he joked, “Not bad, huh?” and kidded the only baseball writer who did not vote for him by saying the dinner invitation he extended previously for the anonymous writer to identify himself was now “expired.” While funny and entertaining, Ichiro spoke of the responsibility and duty he always felt to play “hard and completely” throughout every game. “Pay attention to the details every day,” he said, while advising everyone to always prepare properly and take personal responsibility for every endeavor.
• Back inside for the media availability, it was great to see Ichiro, CC, and Billy relaxed and happy after they successfully delivered their acceptance speeches. CC said he wasn’t surprised by Ichiro’s sense of humor or ability to deliver his speech in English because they were teammates for three years. Ichiro did, however, have his interpreter with him and answered both English and Japanese media questions in Japanese. Still, his English is impressive.
• Congratulations to the inductees and their families, as well as everyone at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for running a first-class event.
• Finally, I can’t believe this is my second consecutive trip to Cooperstown without setting foot inside the Hall of Fame. I was here earlier this summer to watch Logan Snyder of Crownsville, Maryland, and his teammates play in a tournament at the Cooperstown Dreams Park. Logan made a great sliding catch in left field during one game and hit a long home run in another. Dreams really do come true in Cooperstown!

REMEMBER…

◊ Learn more about the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, its inductees, and the history of baseball by visiting www.baseballhall.org. 

◊ Visit www.davidajolley.com for additional blog posts, other interesting content, and updates on future book releases.