Baseball Hall of Fame officials react to induction cancellation

Jon Shestakofsky and Tim Mead give their thoughts following the announcement

Here in the village of cooperstown and on the concourse here in front of the baseball hall of fame on main street it's empty and it's not that unusual for this time of year for there to be a bit of a thinner crowd but that's going to be very different, the month of july.

Not being able to rub elbows with baseball fans from all over the country and really even the world in the summer is leaving a very big void for the sport of baseball.

Nats: thank you so much for coming and travel safely.

Although the baseball hall of fame induction weekend may only span year-long process that begins right after the previous one ends.

Jon shestakofsky: we've been pushing towards this since august so there is certainly an internal disappointment that we can't be in a position to celebrate this great event and celebrate the game as we do every summer.

Induction weekend is the hall's biggest event and one with so much time and effort spent to put together.

Even with all the time and effort put in - hall officials say the personal disappointment took a seat in the nosebleeds - while the well-being of all involved was front row.

Jon shestakofsky: being realistic about what we are dealing with is what is important and from the very beginning of this process our board of directors unanimously have put the health and safety of everyone involved as a priority in making the decision.

And this year was supposed to be even bigger - potentially record-setting - with former yankees captain derek jeter getting enshrined.

But the board wasn't going to let an emotional letdown play a factor in its decision.

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None .

None tim mead: we look at the class of 2020 and obviously there's that expectation, it would be na9ve to say otherwise with derek coming in and the three others, but who goes in really has no bearing on doing the right thing.

While grabbing the headlines at this time - the cancellation of induction weekend is just one way the home of baseball is coping with this "world series" of events.

Jon shestakofsky: the hall of fame is open traditionally all but three days a year and now we've been closed for almost a month and a half so it's a different world, we are trying to deal with these challenges just as every other business and similar institution.

The doors for the hall of fame which are normally wide open and at the end of july are now shut tight and well we won't be able to celebrate induction weekend at the clark sports center this summer we're hoping these doors can be open again