Hall of Fame

Baseball started honoring players during 
1936 season with first Hall of Fame Class

Major League Baseball honored  five individuals in 2000 with induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Former player and manager Sparky Anderson, catcher Carlton Fisk, vintage player Bid McPhee, Reds great Tony Perez, and Negro Leaguer Turkey Stearnes will be enshrined for their accomplishments in professional baseball.

The first class to enter Baseball's Hall of Fame came in 1936. That year, in the inaugural class, Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Christy Matthewson, Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner were elected to the honor.

The Hall of Fame, as it is known today in Cooperstown, N.Y., opened during the 1939 season. Twenty-six players had been inducted into the Hall of Fame including the 1939 class. 

Here's a look at the class of 2000 for Baseball's Hall of Fame:
 

• SPARKY ANDERSON -- Played briefly as an infielder with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1959, but made his mark as a manager. He managed the Reds for nine seasons, winning 863 games, four pennants and two World Series victories. In 1979, he became the manager of the Detroit Tigers, and guided them to a World Series victory in 1984.
• CARLTON FISK -- Fisk set major league records for most games caught (2,226) and most home runs by a catcher (351). He played for both the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox. Fisk may be most remembered for his dramatic home run to win Game Six of the 1975 World Series.
• BID McPHEE -- He played the infielder without a glove for 14 seasons before reluctantly adopting one. He is considered to be the greatest second baseman of the 19th Century. 
• TONY PEREZ -- A seven-time All-Star, Tony Perez was one of the leaders of Cincinnati's Big Red Machine. He played 23 seasons in the Majors, including 16 with the Reds. He hit 379 career home runs and drove in 1,622 runs.
• TURKEY STEARNES -- He made a name for himself playing for the Detroit Stars of the Negro League. He hit more home runs than almost every other player in the recorded history of the Negro League.