Every major leaguer dreams of making the trip to Cooperstown. For former Mets relief pitcher John Franco, the Cooperstown dream becomes a reality Memorial Day Weekend when he suits up for the Hall of Fame Classic at the home of baseball. Franco, who pitched in a franchise-best 695 games over 14 seasons with the New York Mets, will represent the Mets as one of 30 former major league players who will participate in the annual event for the National Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, May 23.

Franco was a beloved workhorse out of the bullpen for well over a decade in Queens. He earned the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award during his debut season with the Mets in 1990, and would eventually be chosen as team captain in 2001. Franco earned 276 total saves in New York, leading the National League in 1990 and 1994. In 2000, Franco was a setup reliever during the Mets’ first NL pennant run in 15 years.

Franco finished his 21-year big league career with 424 saves, fourth-most all-time.

The 2015 Hall of Fame Classic, presented for the seventh straight year by the Ford Motor Company, will feature six Hall of Fame legends and players representing all 30 Major League Baseball teams. The seven-inning legends game at Doubleday Field highlights a weekend of family entertainment programs designed to celebrate the timeless connection of baseball across generations while saluting the contributions of those who served our nation’s military.

Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Tom Glavine, Phil Niekro, Tony Pérez, Ozzie Smith and Robin Yount will serve as managers and coaches for the Classic. To see all the members of the current Hall of Fame Classic roster, please visit www.baseballhall.org/visit/hall-of-fame-classic.

With the popular A Night at the Museum program on Classic Weekend already sold out, the only way to see the legends of the game in Cooperstown is at the Hall of Fame Classic. Tickets are now on sale via phone at 1-877-726-9028 or at www.baseballhall.org. Tickets for the Hall of Fame Classic are $12.50 for first and third base seats and $11 for general admission outfield seats.

The Classic, fueled by assistance from MLB, features the pre-game Home Run Contest at 1 p.m. and the Cooperstown Main Street Game Day Parade at 12 noon. First pitch of the Classic is slated for 2:05 p.m.

Fans can maximize their Hall of Fame Classic Weekend experience with the Classic Connectionticket package, which features a Hall of Fame Classic ticket and a one-day Museum admission pass for just $12.50, a savings of $23 off the regular rate.

The Museum will also offer events as part of Classic Weekend tailored for a variety of audiences, including the Cooperstown Classic Clinic for youngsters ages 7-12 on Friday, May 22 from 4-7 p.m. An exclusive photo opportunity with Hall of Fame members will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 9 a.m. Pre-Orders are required for both opportunities by calling 607-547-0397.

Also as part of Classic Weekend, Hall of Fame members will lead an exclusive golf outing, with a limited number of spots available for golfers, at the beautiful Leatherstocking Golf Course on Otsego Lake. For more information on supporting the Hall of Fame through this exclusive golf outing, please call 607-547-0310.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has teamed up with Sports Travel and Tours to offer baseball fans a one-stop opportunity to purchase Classic Weekend travel packages. For more information or to plan a trip to Cooperstown, please call 1-888-310-HALL (4255). Membership participants receive a 5% discount on all their baseball travel packages.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend, the Museum observes daily regular hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Museum observes summer hours of 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend until the day before Labor Day. Ticket prices are $23 for adults (13 and over), $15 for seniors (65 and over) and $12 for juniors (ages 7-12) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations. Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For more information, visit our website at baseballhall.orgor call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.