Hall of Fame question. If the sports writers elect someone and the Hall of Fame Committee doesn't agree.....

Question

can they tell the sports writers to take a hike? Can they refuse to induct a questionable candidate? How does that work?

Answer 1

The baseball writers association was given the original authority back in the 1930's by the founders of the hall of fame, Ford Frick, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and William Harridge. They took on the responsibility of selecting Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson as the first members.

Basically these three individuals set the stage for who had the authority to vote on retired players. Later a five year waiting period was adopted before a player became eligible for the all.

Even later a 15 year eligibility period was given to all players before their names are turned over to the veterans committee.

The Hall of Fame committee or those who are the keepers of the hall have no authority when it comes to who can or cannot be members. Once a player is voted in with 75% of the baseball writers votes, they're in. End of story. As it stands now no one can challenge their decision.

I think your question has merit considering the situations that will confront the hall in the upcoming years.

Answer 2

The ballot is not the complete answer. The baseball writers association can include write ins as well. The question is who among all the committees makes the finally decision? I would guess that all that type of determination is made prior to the ballots being turned over the the committees. As far as the Hall of Fame committee, I guess they just follow suit based on the baseball writers and the veterans committees. However I would imagine that there is nothing in writing that says the hall can't challenge a nominee. Very interesting question.

Answer 3

I don't know that anyone has ever challenged the voting system before. I'm not sure what kind of power the Hall of Fame committee has over either the sports writers association or the veterans committee. I have a pretty good idea where you are going with this question due to the McGwire situation and Pete Rose coming out to support in election. I'd be interested if anyone can answer this question.

Answer 4

i imagine the BBWAA has performed a good -- not proper, options -- pastime of gatekeeping the hall's roster. lawsuits about Rice's candidacy are hollow; he has received over 50% numerous circumstances, over 60% a minimum of once. that's majority approval -- that's basically not the seventy 5% supermajority necessary for induction. There are not THAT many electorate available conserving some imaginary grudge antagonistic to Rice because he would have barked at them for the period of his occupation. And he replaced into, no doubt, an excellent participant for most seasons. that's not a conspiracy nor a damaged equipment, that's basically that Rice wasn't All That for lengthy sufficient to win over seventy 5% of a herd of cats. As for letting the residing HOFers vote -- nicely, that's the present Veterans Committee equipment, and in 3 cycles it has elected no one. so as that they are extremely stingy already, and if it keeps up for yet another few cycles i imagine we are going to see the VC, or a minimum of THIS version of the VC, bypass away, which should not be a foul element. Electing no one is a valid outcome, yet under no circumstances electing all of us is the same outcome which could be produced with the help of having no committee in any respect, and having no committee is a a lot less complicated scenario. i ought to work out increasing the hall's widely used electoral college -- a careful selection of lengthy-time period announcers (crew, radio, teevee) and non-print media writers (why the hell would not invoice James get to vote?) -- besides the indisputable fact that the BBWAA has not been derelict of their household initiatives right here.

Answer 5

No. The BBWAA has the authority to vote in players five years after retirement. Period. There is no oversight on those selections in the sense of taking someone back. Therefore, if - taking a name at random - Mark McGwire gets enough votes, he is in. Period. It's part of the agreement with the writers.

However, players who fail to receive enough votes from the writers do get a second chance. They get reviewed by a committee that also considers other contributors (managers, owners, executives, etc.). Bill Mazeroski didn't get in through the writers, but was later picked by the committee.

Answer 6

No one even after changing the veterans committee
elected no body.Very disappointing!!!

Answer 7

WHEN BASEBALL DOESN'T WANT A PLAYER IN THE HOF, THEN THEY DON'T EVEN PUT HIM ON THE BALLOT. EXAMPLE: PETE ROSE IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.