HOF thinks ahead for Jeter induction

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Friday, September 26, 2014

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Derek Jeter still has three games left in his career before retiring, but officials in Cooperstown are already thinking about his likely induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The New York Yankees shortstop will be eligible for enshrinement in 2020. For Cooperstown mayor Jeff Katz, it's not too early to start planning for the huge crowd that will show up for Jeter's induction.

Katz told WSTM-TV in Syracuse that the attendance that July weekend could top 100,000.

"Maybe it could be 100,000, maybe 120,000, what if it's 200,000?" he said.

When Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. were inducted in 2007, about 80,000 jammed Cooperstown.

The mayor says Otsego County emergency services and state police will work with Hall of Fame officials to prepare for the 2020 induction weekend.

A big crowd is also anticipated in 2019 for former Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera's expected induction.

"Depending on how many people Rivera brings out, that will help us hone in," Katz told the station. "Every induction weekend has its own set [of issues]. When you're looking ahead to a guy like Derek Jeter, you have to prepare. That guy has affected and touched so many people that everyone will want to share in it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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