1996 Hall of Fame Program

August 4, 1996 - The day legendary Phillies right-hander Jim Bunning was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The ceremony capped a three-year streak in which Phillies were featured induction class members following Steve Carlton ('94), Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn ('95).

While there are many different collectibles that are sold every summer during Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown, NY, the induction yearbook is an affordable classic. Like a game day program you could buy at Citizens Bank Park, it is a nice keepsake of the event and makes a great autograph medium. The yearbook for the class of 1996 featured a white cover with four colored blocks - one for each of the inductees (Bunning, Weaver, Foster and Hanlon).

On the secondary market, programs from this era typically retail for between $10-$15. Fans who have participated in the activities of an Induction Weekend are probably familiar with the practice of getting their souvenirs "cancelled" at the town's post office the morning of the inductions. Having the cancellation stamp does not impact the book's overall value, but I like having it present - since it places the program at the event that day.