COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Baltimore native John Schuerholz was inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and former commissioner Bud Selig on a picture-perfect summer day in front of over 27,000 fans.

In 26 years as a general manager for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves, Schuerholz stood alone. His teams won 16 division titles, six pennants and two World Series, one in each league, a first. He credited divine providence and fate for his good fortune, starting with a case of German measles that left him deaf in his right ear at age five, which he said forced him to be more attentive.

Schuerholz, who played second base at Towson State, said he quickly figured out where he should concentrate his future in baseball after a two-day tryout when he was told to time the players on the second day instead of taking the field.

“The message was delivered,” Schuerholz said. “I’d better concentrate someplace other than trying to be a professional baseball player. Divine providence. Fate. I truly believe so.”

Schuerholz, who grew up attending City College, earned a spot in the Orioles’ minor league system, and, in 1969, joined the expansion Royals and became the team’s GM 12 years later, winning the 1985 World Series.

Schuerholz’s speech began the ceremony, an emotional time for the inductees.

Rodriguez looked to his father, wiping away tears.

“If I’m a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer,” he said.

Raines thanked Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, his teammate with the Montreal Expos when he first broke into the majors.

“Without Andre Dawson there’s no telling where I’d be,” said Raines, who fought cocaine problems early in his career.