The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908,[1] to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century. Its founding members included Joe S. Jackson, the association's first president; syndicated columnist Hugh Fullerton; and Boston Globe baseball writer Tim Murnane ("Baseball Writers Unite," 9).
The organization's primary function is to work with Major League Baseball and individual teams to assure clubhouse and press-box access for BBWAA members. In addition, BBWAA members also elect players to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which is the organization's most public function. All writers with 10 years of membership in the BBWAA are eligible to vote for the Hall of Fame. The BBWAA also votes annually for the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Most Valuable Player Award, Cy Young Award, Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, and Manager of the Year Award in each of the two major leagues. The Hall of Fame also empowers the BBWAA's Historical Overview Committee, made up of 11 or 12 veteran BBWAA members, to formulate the annual ballot for the Veterans Committee.
Considering the ready availability of television broadcasts for the majority of baseball games, plus instant access to information through the Internet, some have called into question why the BBWAA has not broadened its membership rules to include broadcasters and researchers.[2] (Similar arguments were made for the inclusion of Web-based journalists, before the BBWAA added Web writers to its ranks in December, 2007.[3]
Others have openly questioned why the BBWAA is involved in the award and Hall of Fame voting processes at all,[4] citing in some cases journalistic integrity and the need to remain unbiased in their coverage of newsworthy events.[5]
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The BBWAA's most public function is to vote annually for new inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In addition, the BBWAA is responsible for voting on several annual awards in each major league, including:
In or about 2000, the BBWAA took over the voting responsibility for the Edgar Martínez Award, given each year to the outstanding designated hitter in the American League.
From 1953 to 1962, the BBWAA presented a "Sophomore of the Year Award" in each league.[6]
In 1997, a 36-member BBWAA panel selected the Major League Baseball All-Time Team.
Replicas of various BBWAA awards and lists of past winners are displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in the Records Room, which also has other exhibits, including charts showing active and all-time leaders in various baseball statistical categories.
The annual J. G. Taylor Spink Award is the highest award given by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) to its members.
In 2007, the BBWAA opened its membership to web-based writers employed on a full-time basis by "websites that are credentialed by MLB for post-season coverage."[3]
Names of members are followed by the name of the organization for whom they write.[16]
Note: New York Times, Washington Post [17] and Baltimore Sun [18] writers have stated that they are no longer permitted to vote by their employers. The Los Angeles Times has a similar policy,[19] though it appears to be negotiable.
"Baseball Writers Unite." Washington Post, October 15, 1908, p.9.