Cavalcade of Baseball

A well dressed crowd filled Main Street in front of the Museum awaiting the dedication of the Hall of Fame. The stage was decked out in red, white and blue bunting and filled with baseball luminaries poised for the introduction of the immortals of baseball. Rowan Spraker. Mayor of the Village of Cooperstown was introduced by Master of Ceremonies Charles Doyle, President of the Baseball Writers Association. Welcoming remarks by the Mayor were followed by the introduction of John Heydler, past-President of the National League and member of the Centennial Commission's Executive Committee. Heydler fell in love with the Village of Cooperstown twenty years earlier, and without him the day would not have happened. He paid tribute to the spirit of the citizens of Cooperstown and Stephen Clark's generosity, interest and support. Heydler remarked that "This day is one of the happiest of my more than fifty years in the National Game". Heydler then introduced Commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

The Commissioner dedicated the Museum as a shrine to sportsmanship, Landis, with Ford Frick (President of the National League), William Harridge (President of the American League), and William Bramham (President of the National Association of Baseball Leagues) cut the ribbons opening the National Museum. Then began the roll call of the first members of the Hall of Fame, starting with the deceased and then the living members.

Ty Cobb was conspicuous in his absence. Cobb arrived later in the afternoon, after the dedication ceremony, claiming he was delayed due to an illness experienced during his cross-country car ride. However, many sportswriters speculated that the rift between Landis and Cobb, caused by the accusations Landis made about Cobb and Tris Speaker's alleged impropriety, which ultimately led to the end of Cobb's career as Detroit's manager, was the reason for Cobb's delay. Nevertheless, Cobb was proud to be enshrined in Cooperstown, mingling with the fans and well wishers. He returned often to Cooperstown in the ensuing years.

Connie Mack and Honus Wagner made stirring acceptance speeches, but the crowd erupted when Babe Ruth came to the microphone. Babe encouraged young players to work hard and not to quit. He reminded the crowd that June 12 marked the 25th anniversary of his first pitch as a Boston Red Sox, and the crowd cheered. The class photo was taken and the National Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame was open to the public.

Then it was on to Doubleday Field and the Cavalcade of Baseball game. Each major league team sent players to participate in the exhibition game, many of whom would become Hall of Famers. The players marched down Main Street followed by spectators in a spirited stroll to the "birthplace" of baseball. Team captains Honus Wagner and Eddie Collins tossed a bat to choose sides. The Wagners won 4-3, thrilling more than ten thousand fans.