Latest News

• Wednesday, March 27, 2019

  Legion Celebration Features 2019 Hall of Famer Lee Smith

  By Jeremy Field, American Legion Baseball

  The American Legion, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on March 15, is teaming up with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for a centennial celebration at the home of baseball this weekend, March 29-30. See Detailed Schedule.

  

  Register for this weekend by clicking on image.

  The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will feature programming with military themes as the American Legion celebrates its 100th anniversary. The iconic veterans organization, which was founded March 15, 1919, has an estimated 2 million members.

  Class of 2019 Hall of Famer Lee Smith, who played American Legion Baseball in Natchitoches, La., will participate in a welcome event at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Museum’s Plaque Gallery and a question-and-answer session at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Museum’s Grandstand Theater. Both events are open to all Hall of Fame visitors.

  Following the question-and-answer session, Smith will sign autographs for all guests with American Legion Family membership cards.

  Joining Smith for remarks at Friday’s welcome event will be three guests from The American Legion: National Commander Brett P. Reistad, Past National Commander and Chairman of The American Legion 100th Anniversary Observance Committee David K. Rehbein and New York Department Commander Gary Schacher. Also present will be New York Department Adjutant James Casey and New York Department Baseball Chair Bruce Mayfield.

  American Legion members, family members and their guests will receive a special museum admission rate of $12 March 29-30. RSVP is requested by The American Legion at this website.

  American Legion Baseball, established in the 1920s, has become a part of the fabric of our national pastime. One-quarter of the 329 members of the National Baseball Hall of Famers have roots in Legion ball. The first of those 81 Hall of Famers was Bob Feller, inducted in 1962.

  The Hall of Fame celebrates veterans year-round with free admission to active and career 20-year retired military members, and honors Hall of Famers whose careers were interrupted by military service with special medallions in the museum’s historic Plaque Gallery.

  The Hall of Fame annually honors the American Legion Baseball Player of the Year at the Memorial Day Weekend Hall of Fame Classic.