MLB Old Timers Day tickets: legends and giveaways

Old Timers Day is one of the most unusual tickets on the MLB calendar. It is part regular-season game, part living museum, and part family reunion for franchises that take their history seriously. If you have ever wanted to see a World Series hero throw a ceremonial pitch, watch a Hall of Famer trot out to his old position one more time, or stand for an ovation that travels three generations deep, this is the day to plan around. Here is what to expect before you buy, and how to make the experience worth the trip. ## What Old Timers Day actually is Old Timers Day is a pregame ceremony and exhibition built around a regular MLB game. The host club invites former players back to the ballpark, introduces them one by one on the field, and usually stages a short exhibition inning or home run derby featuring the alumni. After the ceremony wraps, the current roster takes over and plays a normal nine-inning game against that day's opponent. The most famous version is the New York Yankees Old Timers Day, a tradition that has run for decades and routinely brings back World Series winners, captains, and Hall of Famers. Other franchises stage their own alumni days under different names: reunion weekends, legends games, anniversary celebrations for championship teams. The format varies, but the core promise is the same. You get a real MLB game plus a curated tour through the franchise's past. ## Why the ticket is different A standard MLB ticket gets you nine innings. An Old Timers Day ticket gets you: - An on-field introduction of returning legends, often 20 to 40 names deep - A short exhibition or skills showcase featuring alumni - The regular game that follows - Frequently, a stadium giveaway tied to the theme of the day Because the pregame ceremony is the headline, the first pitch of the alumni exhibition is the real start time, not the listed game time. Plan to be in your seat early. Crowds for these days tend to arrive earlier than usual, gates fill faster, and the best ovations happen before the official lineups are announced. ## Giveaways and promotions to watch for Old Timers Day is one of the more reliable giveaway days on the schedule. Teams often pair the alumni ceremony with: - Bobbleheads of the player or team being honored - Replica jerseys, caps, or pennants - Anniversary patches and commemorative programs - Photo cards of returning players Giveaway quantities are almost always limited to the first set number of fans through the gates. If a specific item is the reason you are going, treat the gate-open time as your real arrival deadline, not the first pitch. ## How to pick the right seat The pregame ceremony plays to the entire stadium, but some seats are clearly better for it. - Behind home plate and the lower infield: best for the introductions and the alumni at-bats - Field-level down the lines: closest to the player walkouts and dugout interactions - Lower outfield: strong angle for any home run exhibition - Upper deck behind the plate: underrated value, great wide view of the ceremony and a solid game seat after If your priority is autographs, look for seats near the dugout or along the railings where alumni often linger before heading off the field. ## When to buy Old Timers Day is announced as part of the team's promotional schedule, usually well before the season. Demand patterns are predictable: - Early spring: best inventory, widest seat selection, calmest pricing - Two to three weeks out: secondary market starts to firm up, especially if a marquee legend is confirmed - Game week: prices can swing in either direction depending on the opponent and weather Big anniversary years, World Series reunion themes, and Hall of Fame inductee returns all push demand higher. If any of those are attached to the date, buy early. For current Old Timers Day and alumni weekend listings, check the relevant team hub on this site to compare seat locations and dates across the league. ## Bring the right crowd This is the rare MLB ticket that works for everyone. Lifelong fans get the legends. Kids get the giveaway and the post-ceremony game. Casual fans get a built-in story to follow because the broadcast and PA spend the day explaining who each returning player is and why they matter. A few practical notes: - Bring sun protection. Pregame ceremonies often run during the hottest part of the afternoon. - Bring a phone with storage to spare. The introductions are highly photographable. - Arrive hungry. Concession lines spike once the ceremony ends and the game begins. ## The bottom line Old Timers Day is a real MLB game wrapped around a tribute to the people who built the franchise. You get history, a giveaway, and nine innings of baseball in a single ticket. Plan around the gate-open time, choose a seat that sees both the ceremony and the game well, and lock in tickets early when a marquee anniversary or honoree is attached. Done right, it is one of the most memorable days you can spend at the ballpark.