On June 12, 1939, the inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame were inducted in Cooperstown, New York. From the article:
"Even though he was surrounded on this day by a galaxy of stars, Babe Ruth always seemed to shine the brightest in the eyes of baseball fans. And so it came as no surprise when, after being honored along with the greatest stars his sport had ever known, it was the Bambino’s surprising appearance with bat in hand that brought down the house.
It was on Monday, June 12, 1939, when Cooperstown, N.Y., would - for at least one day - be considered the baseball capital of the world. Earlier in the day the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum would hold its first-ever Induction Ceremony in which the game’s immortals, including Ruth, would forever be enshrined. That day would also be the public opening of the National Baseball Museum, today known as the Hall of Fame.
And following the Induction Ceremony, an all-star baseball game was held at Doubleday Field, featuring the best active players of the day."