Editor

Editor's Notes from the
1999 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction.

It was great seeing all those distinguished great baseball players united in one location. They all were very polite and generous with the fans, but Orlando Cepeda was special. Orlando Cepeda is not only a great baseball player but he is also one of the nicest person I've ever met. He was constantly being rushed to different events the entire weekend, but always stopped to give autographs out to screaming fans. At the Children's Autograph signing on Monday 7/26, Cepeda, along with George Brett and Juan Marichal were the last ones to leave the event. Even when he left the facilities, he was signing autographs for discouraged fans who couldn't get into the autograph session. I'm glad to see a classy man like Cepeda who seems to always have time for fans.

The man who broke Ty Cobbs record for most hits in the Major Leagues was in Cooperstown. That's right, Pete Rose (4,256 career hits) was there all weekend signing autographs. Pete didn't attend any of the Hall of Fame festivities, but had a booth situated 2 blocks away. Pete looks really good, to the point that he could probably pick up a bat, get into a game and slap the ball to left field for a base-hit like he did in the good ol' days.

I was very disappointed not to see newly inducted Nolan Ryan at the Children's Autograph signing. Children of all ages were asking "Where is Ryan". It seems that Nolan Ryan came for the Induction Ceremony on Sunday and left Cooperstown afterwards. Reggie Jackson also didn't show up.

The Hall of Fame staff and personnel did a great job maintaining the enormous crowd for The Hall of Fame Induction weekend. 50,000 plus went to the Induction Ceremony, thousands went to Doubleday's Park for the exhibition game between the Texas Ranger and the Kansas City Royals and Main Street was jammed with people. I didn't see a single altercation or fight. Everything was kept moving nicely and well organized. Kudos go out to the Hall of Fame Staff and Personnel. Every baseball fan should visit the Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown. It's a great place for a complete look of the great game of Baseball.

Photo Below: Newly inducted Hall of Famer, Orlando Cepeda is being rushed to attend another event during the Hall of Fame weekend , but still managed to pose for a picture with our very own Mercedes Marrero from Latino Legends in Sports.

Mercedes Marrero and Orlando Cepeda

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