In 1935, plans were being formulated for an appropriate celebration in Cooperstown to mark Baseball’s upcoming 100th anniversary. People proposed that a Hall of Fame be established to honor the games immortals. The cooperation of Baseball Writers’ Association of America was enlisted to select the playing greats who were to be honored. The first election was conducted in 1936 and five players were named- Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. The National Baseball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated in colorful ceremony on June 12, 1939. The game’s four ranking executives of the period- Ford Frick, Kenesaw M. Landis, William Harridge, and William G. Bramham participated in the ribbon cutting. Of the 25 immortals who had been elected to the Hall of Fame up to that point, 11 were still living and all of them journeyed to Cooperstown to attend the celebration.
 
 
 

         Here is the ribbon cutting and the front of the The National Baseball Hall of Fame at the opening ceremony on June 12,1939.