Candidates need to have lived in the state for five years to be inducted.

Sunday's honorees were selected from an initial list of 100 potential hall of famers that included author F. Scott Fitzgerald, President Woodrow Wilson and entertainer Jerry Lewis. The original list was created by a panel that included university professors, scientists, editors, authors and others.

That list was winnowed down to 25 by a panel of experts, with state residents having their say on who was selected. Votes were cast on the hall of fame Web site, as well as with ballots that were distributed at diners and shopping centers throughout the state. The vote for the next group of inductees should start later this year.

Berra and the other living inductees will be treated to a red-carpet induction ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

"We are expecting most, if not all, of the inductees (or their descendants) to be there," said Don J. Smith, the hall's executive director. "We have confirmation, or indications, from all inductees that they will be there."

The hall of fame currently exists only as a virtual museum. It is hoped that a $10 million interactive museum will be open two years from now near the Meadowlands.

"We hope that the hall of fame becomes an institution that lasts through the ages, has an immeasurable (impact) on the pride of New Jersey, honors our legends and inspires our children," said Bart Oates, chairman of the board of commissioners for the New Jersey Hall of Fame. "That's a mission that all of us can rally around."

As a former major league baseball player, Berra said he was impressed to be entering this state's Hall of Fame with distinguished people from the fields of arts and entertainment, enterprise and other areas.

A former player, manager and coach for the New York Yankees and Mets from 1946 to 1985, Berra moved to New Jersey for the same reason many other residents decide to live here: it was an easy commute to work in New York. He has lived in Woodcliff and Tenafly before moving to where he now lives in Montclair.

During Berra's long baseball career, he said two of the biggest highlights were catching the only perfect game in the history of the World Series - one of only 17 perfect games overall - thrown by Don Larsen in Game 5 of the contest against the Brooklyn Dodgers in October 1956 and entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Berra still follows the Yankees and attends their home games.

Aldrin is also honored to be included in the hall of fame list.

A Montclair native, Aldrin was one of the first humans to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, along with Neil Armstrong. A graduate of Montclair High School, Aldrin attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and then joined the Air Force. He flew fighter jets in the Korean War before joining the space program.

The hall of fame induction is just the latest honor Aldrin has received in his lifetime. The hall of fame honor comes 29 years after Aldrin, now 78, walked on the moon.

Aldrin said he is not surprised that the Apollo astronauts have received honors from around the world.

"We made it clear with the plaque that we left on the moon, and in retrospect, it is a very good description, 'We come in peace for all humankind.'"

To e-mail Vincent Jackson at The Press:

VJackson@pressofac.com

The
induction ceremony

The New
Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony begins with red carpet arrivals, 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, One Center St., Newark. Tickets for the induction ceremony are $33 and available at njpac.org