For Baltimore Orioles fans destined for the National Baseball Hall of Fame next July for Cal Ripken?s likely induction, another event has been added to the Cooperstown itinerary.
The Aberdeen IronBirds, the Orioles? short-season Single-A affiliate, will take part in the Hall of Fame Weekend celebration, playing the July 28 New York-Penn League Game at Cooperstown?s historic Doubleday Field. With the induction ceremony planned for July 29, it should prove a busy weekend for Orioles fans hoping to witness the induction of the Baltimore legend.
“Oriole fans have historically traveled very well,” said Brad Horn, director of communications for the Hall of Fame. “There was definitely some correlation in the potential for Cal Ripken?s induction.”
Ripken is the primary owner of the IronBirds, an NYPL team that plays in Ripken?s hometown of Aberdeen. The former Orioles infielder, whose streak of 2,632 consecutive games earned him the nickname “Ironman,” is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. The 2007 induction class will be announced Jan 9.
“It?s an ideal fit to have Cal?s team as part of the celebration that is the induction ceremony,” IronBirds general manager Aaron Moszer said.
The game typically pits Oneonta ? the closest team to Cooperstown ? with TriCity because of the rush for housing surrounding the small, up-state New York town. The IronBirds will be staying roughly an hour outside of Cooperstown, but Moszer says it?s well worth it.
“It is a complete celebration,” Moszer said. “I think it just makes it that much more special for all the Orioles fans that do come up there, to be able to see the IronBirds play. It brings a little bit of hometown flair.”
Doubleday Field, situated behind the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, seats 10,000. Admission to the NYPL game is free.
Earlier in the week, it was announced that the Orioles will play an exhibition game against the New York Mets at Doubleday Field on May 21. The game, a rematch of the 1969 World Series, is the only in-season exhibition game on the major league schedule and will continue a tradition that began in 1940.
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
» July 28: IronBirds vs. Oneonta at Doubleday Field, 2 p.m.
» July 29: Induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center
» Did you know? Cooperstown, N.Y., is located on Lake Otsego, the origin of the Susquehanna River. Ripken was born in Havre de Grace, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River.
