Hall of Fame Induction Weekend 2008

Gossage and Williams

The long wait for both Goose Gossage and Dick Williams ended Sunday with their inductions. (AP)

Goose Gossage, Dick Williams, Bowie Kuhn, Billy Southworth, Barney Dreyfuss and Walter O'Malley were all enshrined Sunday as members of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2008. Broadcaster Dave Niehaus and writer Larry Whiteside were also honored, while Buck O'Neil was recognized with the inaugural O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award.

Induction Ceremony | Wrap | News conf.
Speeches: Gossage | Williams | O'Malley
Kuhn | Southworth | Dreyfuss | Niehaus
Whiteside | O'Neil | Bench & Banks sing

Induction I | Induction II | Induction III
HOF Golf Invitational | Induction Friday


Induction Headlines

Induction Video

Six people were inducted and three more honored at the 2008 Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown. Watch
Relief great Rich "Goose" Gossage gave an emotional, 17-minute speech on Induction Sunday. Watch
Manager Dick Williams covered his half-century in professional baseball during his induction speech. Watch
Joe Morgan spoke on behalf of the late Buck O'Neil as O'Neil was immortalized in Cooperstown. Watch

CLASS OF 2008
Goose Gossage
With a handlebar mustache, an untamed mane and an all-business attitude, Rich "Goose" Gossage was among the first pitchers to take on the closer role.
Complete story >
Profile > 		Dick Williams
A manager for 21 seasons with six different teams, Dick Williams earned 1571 wins with 1451 losses, winning five division flags, four league championships and two World Series. Complete story >
Profile >
Barney Dreyfuss
An influential team owner and policy maker, Barney Dreyfuss was both an innovator and one of the best informed men regarding baseball goings-on at the turn of the century.
Complete story >
Profile > 		Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn was one of the game's most influential figures of the latter 20th century and his tenure as Commissioner was the third longest in baseball history. Complete story >
Profile >
Walter O'Malley
Walter O'Malley is considered the most influential club owner of baseball's early expansion era, serving as the catalyst for expansion by moving the Dodgers out west.
Complete story >
Profile > 		Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth compiled a brilliant resume in a 13-year managerial career, winning four NL pennants and steering the Cardinals to World Series titles in 1942 and '44.
Complete story >
Profile >


Future Hall of Fame Weekends

To best serve baseball fans and their vacation plans, we have announced the dates several years in advance. The dates for future Hall of Fame Weekends are as follows:

2009: July 24-27, with Induction Ceremonies on Sunday, July 26
2010: July 23-26, with Induction Ceremonies on Sunday, July 25
2010: July 22-25, with Induction Ceremonies on Sunday, July 24

Provided that they remain retired, the following is a partial list of former Major League ballplayers who will become eligible for consideration by the BBWAA for election into the Hall of Fame in upcoming years. Players eligible after they have been retired from Major League Baseball for five full seasons. For example, those players eligible for consideration in 2010 will have played their final game in 2004. Those players eligible for consideration in 2011 will have last played in 2005, etc.

Year   *Players eligible for the first time for BBWAA election
2010:   Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Andy Ashby, Ellis Burks, Dave Burba, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McLemore, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, Robin Ventura, Fernando Vina, Todd Zeile
2011:   Wilson Alvarez, Carlos Baerga, Jeff Bagwell, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, Cal Eldred, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Marquis Grissom, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, Jose Offerman, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Paul Quantrill, Steve Reed, Kirk Rueter, Rey Sanchez, Benito Santiago, B.J. Surhoff, Ugueth Urbina, Ismael Valdez, Larry Walker, Dan Wilson
2012:   Edgardo Alfonzo, Pedro Astacio, David Bell, Jeromy Burnitz, Vinny Castilla, Scott Erickson, Carl Everett, Jeff Fassero, Alex S. Gonzalez, Danny Graves, Rick Helling, Dustin Hermanson, Jose Hernandez, Brian Jordan, Matt Lawton, Javy Lopez, Bill Mueller, Terry Mulholland, Jeff Nelson, Phil Nevin, Brad Radke, Joe Randa, Tim Salmon, Ruben Sierra, Jose Vizcaino, Bernie Williams, Eric Young
2013:   Sandy Alomar Jr., Tony Batista, Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Jeff Cirillo, Royce Clayton, Roger Clemens, Jeff Conine, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Roberto Hernandez, Ryan Klesko, Mike Lieberthal, Kenny Lofton, Jose Mesa, Damian Miller, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz, Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Curt Schilling, Aaron Sele, Sammy Sosa, Mike Stanton, Jose Valentin, Todd Walker, David Wells, Rondell White, Bob Wickman, Woody Williams
2014:   Sean Casey, Todd Jones, Jeff Kent, Greg Maddux, Matt Morris, Mike Mussina, Hideo Nomo, Kenny Rogers, J.T. Snow

*Please note that this is not necessarily a complete listing, players are not necessarily guaranteed to be on the final BBWAA ballot, and players may return to active duty after they have retired or missed time.