On Saturday, May 23, the National Baseball Hall of Fame turns Doubleday Field into something rarer than a legends game. The Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice brings seven Hall of Famers and two dozen former major leaguers to Cooperstown for a seven-inning game built around one idea — the players on the field carry direct or familial ties to the United States Armed Forces.
Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Scott Rolen, and Joe Torre manage and coach. The roster underneath them is where the day earns its title.
Hall of Famer Joe Torre arrives on stage for the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Lt. Mitch Harris went to the Naval Academy and served five years of active duty before debuting with the Cardinals. Lt. Chris Rowley went to West Point, served, and pitched for the Blue Jays. Nick Ahmed is the grandson of two Army veterans. Jeremy Affeldt is suiting up for his own military family.
And then there’s the flag. Fifty years ago, Cubs outfielder and Marine Reservist Rick Monday sprinted into left-center at Dodger Stadium and grabbed an American flag from two protesters before the lighter caught. That same flag will be on exhibit at the Hall of Fame from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Monday will be on the field.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Fernando Valenzuela, right, and Sandy Koufax, center, and former outfielder Rick Monday, left, listen as Orel Hershiser is inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball, before of a game between the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
The Louisville Slugger Warriors — an amputee team of veterans, active-duty personnel, and wounded warriors — play as a unit, with Curtis Pride as head coach. Brittany Apgar and Alyssa Zettlemoyer of the Women’s Pro Baseball League round out the roster, putting WPBL talent on a Hall of Fame stage before the league throws its first pitch.
Gates open 11 a.m. with a field-sized flag on display and family activities. American flags to the first 2,500 fans. Home Run Derby at noon. First pitch 1 p.m. Doubleday Kids Dash postgame. Night at the Ballpark fan event at 6 p.m. Tickets at baseballhall.org/hofclassic — veterans use code BHOF250 for free museum admission.
Fans watch the Hall Of Fame Classic baseball game Saturday, May 23, 2015, at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, N.Y. (AP Photo/Steve Jacobs)
The Full Roster
Hall of Famers: Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Jack Morris, Scott Rolen, Joe Torre.
Former Major League Players: Jeremy Affeldt, Nick Ahmed, Al Bumbry, Charlie Culberson, Ryan Dempster, Mark Dewey, Jonny Gomes, Mitch Harris, Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy, Jonathan Lucroy, Kevin Mench, Rick Monday, Charlie Morton, Daniel Murphy, Jake Peavy, Curtis Pride, Josh Reddick, Zach Reks, David Robertson, Chris Rowley, Shane Spencer, Alex Wilson, Todd Zeile, Brad Ziegler.
Louisville Slugger Warriors: Sgt. First Class Carlo Adame (Army), Chief Petty Officer Kenny Celeste (Navy), Sgt. Lonnie Gaudet (Army), Technical Sgt. Derrick Victor (Air Force).
Women’s Pro Baseball League: Brittany Apgar, Alyssa Zettlemoyer.
