Players in this year’s Hall of Fame Military Classic will honor veterans by wearing replica historic baseball jerseys from the armed forces.
According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, “70 Hall of Famers put their careers on hold to serve their country during wartime.” This Memorial Day Weekend, players will wear jerseys based on the historical uniforms and archival photographs of players from their service in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
The Hall of Fame Military Classic jerseys will feature a patch with the game emblem on the left sleeve and the service branch name across the chest. Each branch of the military examined the jerseys before they were made.
Who will be participating in the Hall of Fame Military Classic game?
Seven Hall of Famers and 25 former Major League Baseball players will compete in a seven-inning game at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field as part of the Hall of Fame Military Classic legends game.
Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Jack Morris, and Scott Rolen will manage and coach the Military Classic.
Players scheduled to participate include 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, and Brad Ziegler.
“We are so grateful to Ebbets Field for creating jerseys that represent the spirit of the Hall of Fame Military Classic,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “The authenticity of these jerseys connects the stars of today with the legends of the past who sacrificed so much for our country.”
After the game on May 23, the museum will auction off player-autographed game-worn jerseys online at MLB.com to assist its nonprofit goals. The Hall of Fame’s Museum Store will also sell a limited quantity of jerseys with patch-sleeve logos.