Behind the making of Sam Mills' Hall of Fame bust

Besides the speeches, the unveiling of the inductee busts has become an integral piece of Hall of Fame weekend.

It marks an immortalizing of the game's greats right before our – and their – very eyes.

“I have to push myself to make sure beyond just looking like them, but breathe some life into it,” sculptor Ben Hammond said. “So when people walk by, they're like, 'Oh, wow, that is that individual!' That's what I try to do.”

Hammond has been a professional sculptor for 20 years, working on all sorts of pieces. But every year since 2007, he spends about two months creating Hall of Fame busts for three inductees in every class.

“They seem to be as impressed with what I make out of clay as I am of their prowess on the field,” Hammond said.

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