As expected, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that the 2020 induction ceremony has been canceled. This year’s inductees, including Derek Jeter and Larry Walker, will instead be inducted in 2021 along with any members of that class.
Jeter and Walker, along with fellow inductee Ted Simmons, released statements supporting the Hall of Fame’s decision to put off the ceremony.
“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame will be an incredible honor, but the health and safety of everyone involved are paramount,” Jeter said in a statement provided by the Hall of Fame. “I respect and support the decision to postpone this year’s enshrinement and am looking forward to joining current Hall of Famers, fans, staff and my family and friends in Cooperstown in 2021.”
“I fully understand and agree with the Board’s decision,” Walker said. “It is most important to do the right thing for everybody involved, and that means not putting any participants in jeopardy, whether Hall of Famers or visitors. I realize how serious this situation has become and how many lives have been lost.”
The decision is a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The traditional ceremony was a non-starter due to the crowds it attracts. Plus, many Hall of Famers are high risk individuals due to their age.
The new ceremony will take place on July 25, 2021. Depending on what the 2021 class looks like, that could be an absolutely huge day.
