At that first ceremony, the precedent of honoring inductees with framed certificates and a unique and special Hall of Fame ring was established. They represent each individual’s special contributions to the region's amateur baseball experience. When the organization initially decided they couldn’t afford them, Don Gabbert used his salesmanship to convince Falstaff Brewing to underwrite the $525 cost. 
To all inductees, these are rings of honor. To date just over 800 individuals have been inducted in the fifty years of the HOF’s existence. When looking back over time and recognizing how many hundreds of thousands and more likely “millions” of people have either played or contributed to amateur baseball over the past century, it truly is a very special honor to be one the few chosen to wear these special rings.
Since that first dinner in 1974, the Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies have been held in multiple locations ranging from the Henry VIII Hotel on North Lindbergh Blvd at Highway 70 and then down the interstate to the Marriott St. Louis Airport Hotel. In recent years, the Westport Sheraton Chalet has been home to the annual induction and awards ceremonies. The induction dinners have always been a night of dressing up and remembering the past. As shown in the 25th Anniversary program from 1998, there was much more to these evenings than just dinners and awards. The celebration went on “For Your Dancing And Listening Pleasure” with Russ David and his Orchestra featuring Dotty Bennett that would keep the party going from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
How special have these ceremonies been? All you have to do is look at the list of those who have stepped up to the dais to speak at each year’s dinner. From Stan Musial, to Enos Slaughter, to Cool “Papa” Bell, and Bob Feller, these are just a few of the biggest names in baseball history that have come to offer their personal stories and memories to the attendees. While nearly a dozen of our speakers received their own induction into Cooperstown’s HOF, the others have all have left mark in St. Louis baseball history.
There have been many other changes to the ceremony over the course of five decades. The earlier induction programs were simply a folded sheet of paper with the evening’s details and honorees listed inside. Today’s programs now exceed 75 pages, printed in brilliant color detailing past inductees and award winners, while also providing special biographies of the current inductee class. 
To further recognize the legacy of amateur baseball and their achievements within the sport across the region, there has been an expanded roster of awards beyond each year’s annual individual inductees. These awards are named after key alumnus of the St. Louis baseball community and display the testament and dedication of each.
∙ In recognition of our first Master of Ceremony, the Bob Burnes Award was first give out in 2004 to honor a St. Louis area resident for Lifetime Achievement in Professional Baseball.
∙ The Bob Broeg Award was first awarded in 2001 to the high school baseball coach for his commitment to coaching excellence and a lifetime of service to high school baseball in the greater St. Louis area.
∙ The Jack Buck Media Award was first presented in 2004 for service to baseball as a distinguished member of the S. Louis media whose work embodies the principles of Hall of Fame legend Jack Buck.
∙ The J. Kim Tucci Legacy Award was created in 2012 to honor individuals and organizations who are outstanding supporters of baseball in the St. Louis area.
∙ The Triple Crown Award was first awarded in 2023 to recognize an individual who over a sustained period of time has supported the game of baseball and the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame by either financial assistance, sponsorship, or contribution of time and effort.
∙ In 1996, the Rising Star Award was first presented to honor high school baseball players for achievements on and off the field Each year with five finalists selected from nominations by high school coaches throughout the region. From those five nominees, the Rising Star is award to the player who is considered the “best of the best” in the greater St. Louis area.
As we celebrate fifty years of the best of St. Louis amateur baseball tonight, we can say five decades is truly a long period of time. In reality it is not. When considering all the amateur baseball that has been played across the region since the game first came to town after its birth in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1845, the inductees and award winners of this Hall of Fame represent, over time, the best of the best within our region’s game. Let us all honor those individuals on this stage tonight while also remembering all of the previous inductees and award winners who helped contribute to the legacy of amateur baseball across the greater St. Louis region that helped make ours “the best baseball town in America.”