Rain halts military tribute at Baseball Hall of Fame as Gomes claims Derby

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s special Classic Game on Saturday, 23 May 2026, was abandoned due to steady rain that rendered Doubleday Field unplayable early in the first inning. The event, designed to honour military service members, saw Team Stripes defeat Team Stars 2-1 before the match was halted. Team Stars, captained by Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Todd Helton, Tony LaRussa, and Jack Morris, held a 1-0 lead after Curtis Pride scored on an RBI groundout by Nick Ahmed. Team Stripes, led by Rollie Fingers, Fergie Jenkins, and Scott Rolen, responded in the bottom half with RBI hits from Daniel Murphy and Kevin Mench to take the lead.

Following the cancellation of the on-field contest, the Hall of Fame offered refunds to attendees and relocated programming to the Grandstand Theater. There, panel members discussed their connections to the military, maintaining the event’s institutional focus despite the weather-related disruption. The museum also used the occasion to debut new exhibits, including “The Rules of Base Ball” as part of the “Taking the Field” display, and a new feature on the American flag saved by Rick Monday in 1976.

The Home Run Derby proceeded as planned, with Jonny Gomes defeating Josh Reddick in a single-swing final. Gomes hit a home run to left field with his only swing to secure the title. He later reflected on his victory, stating, “I didn’t come all the way out here to get second... One swing, one homer there in the finals. I hit it.” Gomes noted that he had originally enrolled in the Marines in June 2001 before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 18th round.

Gomes, who played 13 major league seasons and won World Series titles with Boston in 2013 and Kansas City in 2015, emphasised his support for the armed forces. “I’m a real big supporter of the military,” Gomes said. “Love this country. Happy birthday, America!” His career statistics include a .242 average, 162 home runs, 835 hits, and 526 RBIs across stints with Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Oakland, Boston, and Kansas City.

Rick Monday, whose flag is now on display, shared his account of the 1976 incident at Dodger Stadium during the weekend events. Monday described running to retrieve the flag from protesters who intended to burn it, dodging a can of lighter fluid thrown by one of the demonstrators. He handed the flag to pitcher Doug Rau, stating, “I’m very proud that I was able to be close enough to react and do what I thought was right. I respect those who have protected our rights and freedoms, including their families.”