Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2008
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The 2008 election to select inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame will proceed according to revised rules enacted in 2001. The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) will hold an election to select from among recent players. The Veterans Committee will not hold an election; the 2001 rules changes provided that elections for players retired over 20 years would be held every other year, with elections of non-players (managers, umpires and executives) held every fourth year. The Committee voted in 2007 in both areas. An election for players will next be held in 2009, though there will be no accompanying election for non-players; elections in both areas will again be held in 2011.
The induction ceremonies will be held on July 27, 2008 in Cooperstown, with Commissioner Bud Selig presiding.
[edit] The BBWAA election
The BBWAA will again be authorized to elect players active in 1988 or later, but not after 2002; the ballot, expected to be announced in late November 2007, will include candidates from the 2007 ballot who received at least 5% of the vote but were not elected, along with selected players, chosen by a screening committee, whose last appearance was in 2002. All 10-year members of the BBWAA are eligible to vote.
Voters will be instructed to cast votes for up to 10 candidates; any candidate who receives votes on at least 75% of the ballots will be honored with induction to the Hall. Results of the 2008 election by the BBWAA will be announced in early January. Those candidates who receive less than 5% of the vote will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, but may eventually be considered by the Veterans Committee.
There will be 14 candidates returning from the 2006 ballot; Dave Concepción will be on the ballot for the 15th and final time:
- Harold Baines
- Bert Blyleven
- Dave Concepción
- Andre Dawson
- Rich "Goose" Gossage
- Tommy John
- Don Mattingly
- Mark McGwire
- Jack Morris
- Dale Murphy
- Dave Parker
- Jim Rice
- Lee Smith
- Alan Trammell
The newly-eligible candidates will include 16 All-Stars, but only one who was selected more than five times. In contrast to the remarkably deep field of candidates in 2007, when those newly eligible had been named to the All-Star team a combined total of 103 times, the 2008 field of new candidates were selected a total of only 40 times. José Rijo, who appeared on the 2001 ballot before returning to the major leagues in 2001-2002, will again become eligible. Darryl Kile, who died during the 2002 season, was included on the 2003 ballot under a standard provision for players who die before the five-year waiting period has elapsed.
Players eligible for the first time are: Luis Alicea, Brady Anderson, Alex Arias, Andy Benes, Mike Benjamin, Dennis Cook, Delino DeShields, Shawon Dunston, Chuck Finley, Darrin Fletcher, Travis Fryman, Rich Garcés, Chris Haney, Dave Hollins, Bobby J. Jones, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch, Tom Lampkin, Darren Lewis, Mike Magnante, Dave Mlicki, Mike Morgan, Robb Nen, Hipólito Pichardo, Tim Raines, Armando Reynoso, Henry Rodríguez, Lee Stevens, Todd Stottlemyre, Greg Swindell, Mike Trombley, John Valentin, Randy Velarde, Ed Vosberg, and Mark Wohlers.
[edit] J.G. Taylor Spink Award
The J.G. Taylor Spink Award, presented by the BBWAA annually at the induction ceremonies since 1962, is given to a sportswriter "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing". The recipient is not considered to be a member of the Hall, but is permanently recognized in an exhibit at the museum, and if living becomes a member of the Veterans Committee for life.
Three final candidates, selected by a BBWAA committee, will be named in July 2007 in San Francisco in conjunction with All-Star Game activities. All 10-year members of the BBWAA will be eligible to cast ballots in voting conducted by mail in November.
[edit] Ford C. Frick Award
The recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented at the induction ceremonies annually since 1978 to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball", is not considered to be a member of the Hall, but is permanently recognized in an exhibit at the museum and, if living, also becomes a life member of the Veterans Committee. To be eligible, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, a network, or a combination of the two.
It is expected that ten finalists will be announced in December 2007. In accordance with guidelines established in 2003, seven will be chosen by a research committee at the museum; three additional candidates will be selected through results of voting by fans conducted at the Hall's official website.
The recipient will be selected in a January vote by a committee composed of the 14 living recipients, along with several additional broadcasting historians and columnists. The committee members will vote by mail, and will base the selection on the following criteria: longevity; continuity with a club; honors, including national assignments such as the World Series and All-Star Games; and popularity with fans.
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