Rules for Election to the Hall of Fame

Election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame is possible through one of two ways. The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) considers the candidacies of players who have played at least 10 major league seasons and been retired five seasons. The Veterans Committee considers those players whose careers concluded no later than 21 seasons ago, along with managers, umpires and executives. Rules for both elections are listed below.

Rules for Election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America

1. Authorization: By authorization of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is authorized to hold an election every year for the purpose of electing members to the National Baseball Hall of Fame from the ranks of retired baseball players.

2. Electors: Only active and honorary members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, who have been active baseball writers for at least ten (10) years, shall be eligible to vote. They must have been active as baseball writers and members of the Association for a period beginning at least ten (10) years prior to the date of election in which they are voting.

3. Eligible Candidates -- Candidates to be eligible must meet the following requirements:

  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 3 (A).

  3. Player shall have ceased to be an active player in the Major Leagues at least five (5) calendar years preceding the election but may be otherwise connected with baseball.

  4. In case of the death of an active player or a player who has been retired for less than five (5) full years, a candidate who is otherwise eligible shall be eligible in the next regular election held at least six (6) months after the date of death or after the end of the five (5) year period, whichever occurs first.

  5. Any player on Baseball's ineligible list shall not be an eligible candidate.

4. Method of Election:

  1. BBWAA Screening Committee — A Screening Committee consisting of baseball writers will be appointed by the BBWAA. This Screening Committee shall consist of six members, with two members to be elected at each Annual Meeting for a three-year term. The duty of the Screening Committee shall be to prepare a ballot listing in alphabetical order eligible candidates who (1) received a vote on a minimum of five percent (5%) of the ballots cast in the preceding election or (2) are eligible for the first time and are nominated by any two of the six members of the BBWAA Screening Committee.

  2. Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as ten (10) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted.

  3. Any candidate receiving votes on seventy-five percent (75%) of the ballots cast shall be elected to membership in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

6. Automatic Elections: No automatic elections based on performances such as a batting average of .400 or more for one (1) year, pitching a perfect game or similar outstanding achievement shall be permitted.

7. Time of Election: The duly authorized representatives of the BBWAA shall prepare, date and mail ballots to each elector no later than the 15th day of January in each year in which an election is held. The elector shall sign and return the completed ballot within twenty (20) days. The vote shall then be tabulated by the duly authorized representatives of the BBWAA.

8. Certification of Election Results: The results of the election shall be certified by a representative of the Baseball Writers' Association of America and an officer of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. The results shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Baseball. The BBWAA and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall jointly release the results for publication.

9. Amendments: The Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. reserves the right to revoke, alter or amend these rules at any time.

Rules for Election by the Veterans Committee

1. Name: The Committee shall be known as the NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE ON BASEBALL VETERANS (the "Committee").

2. Membership: The Committee shall consist of all members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, all recipients of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, and all recipients of the Ford C. Frick Award. In addition, those individuals serving as members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans as of August 6, 2001 shall serve as members of the Committee until such time as their current term in office expires. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. or his/her designee, shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee.

3. Method of Appointment: Election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame via balloting by the Baseball Writers of America Association (the "BBWAA"), or the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans, shall constitute an automatic appointment to the Committee. Recipients of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and the Ford C. Frick Award shall similarly gain an automatic appointment to the Committee.

4. Term: The term of each appointment is for life.

5. Frequency of Elections: Beginning in 2003, the Committee will hold an election for eligible players ("Players Ballot") and shall do so every two years thereafter. Beginning in 2003, the Committee will hold an election to consider managers, umpires and executives ("Composite Ballot") and shall do so every four years thereafter.

6. Eligible Candidates -- Eligible candidates must be selected from:

  1. Major League players who competed in any portion of at least ten (10) championship seasons and who have been retired as players for at least twenty-one (21) years. In addition, players whose service in the Negro Baseball Leagues prior to 1946 and the Major Leagues thereafter total at least ten years or portions thereof are defined as eligible candidates.

  2. Baseball Executives and/or Managers and/or Umpires who have been retired from organized Baseball as Baseball Executives and/or Managers and/or Umpires for at least five (5) years prior to the election. If the candidate is 65 years old at the time of retirement, the waiting period is reduced to six (6) months. If the candidate reaches the age of 65 during the five-year waiting period the candidate becomes eligible six months after the candidate's 65th birthday.

  3. Those whose careers entailed involvement as both players and managers/executives/umpires will be considered for their overall contribution to the game of Baseball; however, the specific category in which such individuals shall be considered will be determined by the role in which they were most prominent. In those instances when a candidate is prominent as both a player and as a manager, executive or umpire, the BBWAA Screening Committee shall determine that individual's candidacy as either a player (Players Ballot), or as a manager, executive or umpire (Composite Ballot). Candidates may only appear on one ballot per election. Those designated as players must fulfill the requirements of 6 (A).

  4. Any person designated by the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball as ineligible shall not be an eligible candidate.

7. Screening Committees: The BBWAA Historical Overview Committee shall be appointed by the BBWAA to identify 200 candidates for the Players Ballot and 60 candidates for the Composite Ballot (managers, umpires and executives). The BBWAA Screening Committee shall be appointed by the BBWAA and consist of two representatives from each Major League Baseball city (or four from those cities with two teams). The BBWAA Screening Committee shall identify 25 candidates for the Players Ballot and 15 candidates for the Composite Ballot (managers, umpires and executives). In addition, the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall appoint a Hall of Fame Screening Committee consisting of six members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who will independently identify five candidates for the Players Ballot.

8. Ballot Size: The final Players Ballot shall consist of a minimum of 25 candidates and a maximum of 30 candidates, depending on the extent of duplication between the choices of the BBWAA Screening Committee and the Hall of Fame Screening Committee. The Composite Ballot shall consist of 15 candidates.

9. Schedule and Method of Balloting: Members of the Committee shall receive ballots and all supporting material by January 15th of the appropriate election year. The vote will be conducted by mail and ballots must be returned postmarked no later than February 15th. Results are to be compiled in the presence of an independent Certified Public Accountant and a representative of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. and shall be certified by the Secretary of the Committee. Election results will be announced to the public in March.

10. Voting: The Committee shall consider all eligible candidates and voting shall be based upon the individual's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the game. Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as ten (10) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted.

11. Number to be Elected: All candidates receiving votes on at least 75% of ballots cast on the separate Players Ballot and Composite Ballot will earn election.

12. Amendments: The Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. reserves the right to revoke, alter or amend these rules at any time.