Is the Baseball Hall of Fame only for MLB and the ***** Leagues?

Question

I've always wondered. Do they only induct people based on what they did in American baseball or does amateur, college and International play count too? Because Julio Franco has more than 4000 hits total if you count his non-MLB hits and I was wondering if he's going to make it.

Answer 1

No, only your Major League (and ***** League) accomplishments count towards the Hall.

Although, you can also be inducted if you have contributed significantly to the game (owners, pioneers, etc.)
.

Answer 2

Note, the full name (emphasis added) is The NATIONAL Baseball Hall Of Fame And Museum. A player's nationality or citizenship does not matter, and contributions or players from the two Canadian teams that have been a part of Major League Baseball are eligible because New York State law governs MLB (where it is incorporated). But the charter is to document, display, and celebrate baseball within the USA.

From the Hall's website (recently redesigned and, frankly, not as good as before, even if spiffier looking):

What is the Hall of Fame's mission?

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is ... dedicated to ... honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to our National Pastime.

Through its mission, the Museum is committed to ... honoring, by enshrinement, those individuals who had exceptional careers, and recognizing others for their significant achievements.

From the election rules for consideration on the BBWAA ballot:
1. A baseball player must have been active as a player in the Major Leagues at some time during a period beginning twenty (20) years before and ending five (5) years prior to election.
2. Player must have played in each of ten (10) Major League championship seasons, some part of which must have been within the period described in (part 1).

Note it reads "Major Leagues" and not "Major League Baseball". Players from older, 19th century leagues have been considered and some inducted. Exactly how the Hall determines which leagues are considered as Major Leagues is not obvious; possibly general acclaim. Today, it is easy -- the American and National Leagues.

And, there is this notation in the rules for election by the Veterans Committee (the old rules are still on the website, despite new rules being announced, distractedly, during the recent HOF weekend -- kinda slipped 'em under the radar; maybe they're not yet official):
...players whose service in the ***** Baseball Leagues prior to 1946 and the Major Leagues thereafter total at least ten years or portions thereof are defined as eligible candidates.

But as for playing time in Japan or any other offshore leagues, well, that does not count toward a player's eligibility. There is nothing prohibiting voters from considering such, although such service time should not be the focus of a candidate's consideration. I cannot see any way the Hall could effectively police this, writers or VC voters looking at Franco's stats elsewhere, or Ichiro's career with Orix before he joined Seattle (not that Ichiro will need the bonus value; he'll likely earn a Cooperstown plaque on his MLB merits alone).

So... yes, consideration for the Hall, for players, generally encompasses only playing time in a domestic major league or any of the several ***** Leagues. The Hall is a private organization, however, and can change its rules and policies whenever it wants.

Answer 3

Absolutely not why should someones stats in a different league count, this the mlb Major League Baseball nothing else.

Answer 4

Right now, yes. Please note that the full name of the hall of fame is The National Baseball Hall of Fame, not the international baseball hall of fame. The rules for induction can be found at this link:

http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/rules.jsp

Answer 5

no. the Basketball Hall Of fame sucks for that reasons.

Answer 6

i think japan leagues should count too