Here's the deal. I've been waiting for this upcoming weekend for what seems like my whole life. I've seriously told everybody I know that I would be going to Cooperstown to see Bobby Cox inducted into the Hall of Fame, even as preposterous as that seems for a college student without a full-time job who lives in Macon, Georgia.
But now it's happening! I'm headed up to Cooperstown Friday night to see three all-time Braves greats make it into the Hall, thanks to my equally baseball-crazed parents and grandfather.
But more on my feelings on that later -- I'll be checking in with Talking Chop every night, going over the day's activities, including hopefully doing a live podcast Sunday night.
But for those either making the trek along with me or at home, here's a guide of all the activities of the weekend and what to expect:
Saturday, July 26
- 4:30 p.m. -- Awards Presentation at Doubleday Field
Various awards will be presented, such as the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters to not Skip Caray or Pete Van Wieren Eric Nadel and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for writers to Roger Angell.
- 6 p.m. -- Parade of Legends at Main Street
I think this is like the All-Star Game parade, except cooler. I'll take video of Bobby, Glav and Maddux circling around quaint downtown Cooperstown while trying not to cry. There's a whole host of Hall of Famers who will be present, including Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays and more.
Sunday, July 27
- 1:30 p.m. -- The induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center
The moment we've all been waiting for! Bobby Cox, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre will all be officially inducted in front of a crowd of, well, an unlimited amount because it's a giant field you get to and stand on. The whole thing will be broadcast live on MLB Network and, if you don't have that, the hall's official website. It'll also be on Sirius XM if you prefer radio.
Or, if you're closer to Atlanta than you are to upstate New York, you can head to Turner Field and watch the whole thing live on Braves Vision. Gates open at 1 p.m., and the ceremony will run from about 1:30-4:30 p.m. You get a really nice poster of the Braves trio, and then you get to watch the Braves play the Padres at 5:05 p.m.!
5 more days! Join us to watch the Hall of Fame ceremony at Turner Field; we'll open the gates at 1pm! #BravesHoF pic.twitter.com/EmOh4Gf4DF
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2014
Monday, July 28
- 10:30 a.m. -- Legends of the Game Roundtable at Clark Sports Center
This may be the most emotional part for me, as I've always broken down crying at Braves Hall of Fame induction luncheons at the Omni. All of the inductees will reminisce about their illustrious careers that led them to being enshrined. The tickets are/were limited to members of the Hall, so it should be a little bit more intimate that the previous day's activities.
So, there you have it. That's the gist of the weekend. I'll be tweeting from my personal account and the Talking Chop one, as well as posting on our Facebook page.
But before that, I have some questions. I'd love to do some sort of TC meetup with any or all of you who are making the trip! I'm not sure when or where would be the best time, so let's discuss in the comments, or tweet or Facebook us. You can bring any and all Braves fans you know in the area, and it should be a great time once we figure out details. Let's work it out!
And also, is there anything specific Talking Chop readers want to see? I'm going to tour the Hall itself on Wednesday, after the crowds may have thinned out. A photo gallery of everything Braves? Interviews with anyone I can get my hands on? Let me know!
This weekend should be huge for all of us who love the Braves, and I want to bring that enthusiasm here to TC since we, of course, have the best community. Get excited!