June 12: Babe Ruth and the Day Baseball Built Its Hall of Fame

On June 12, 1939, the National Baseball Hall of Fame held its first formal induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. The event brought together some of the most famous names in baseball history, including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Connie Mack, Eddie Collins, George Sisler, Tris Speaker, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and Napoleon Lajoie. The Hall of Fame notes that the first induction ceremony was held on June 12, 1939, with all 11 living baseball players inducted into the Hall of Fame present in Cooperstown.