Golden Era Committee
The Golden Era Committee ("The Committee") is one of three 16-member committees of National Baseball Hall of Fame members, appointed by the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 to replace the former Veterans Committee to consider and elect eligible candidates to the Hall of Fame not eligible by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) ballot. Beginning in 2011, the Golden Era Committee (consisting of eight Hall of Fame members, five executives, and three media members) considers and then elects (first election, December 5) to the Hall of Fame every 3 years, retired Major League Baseball players that are no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BWAA) along with managers, umpires, and executives from the 1947 to 1972 era.[1]
The BWAA appointed-Historical Overview Committee of 10 to 12 representatives is the Screening Committee beginning in 2011, that identifies ten Golden Era candidates for possible election to the Hall of Fame each fall before the Golden Era Committee's winter meeting election.
Golden Era Ballot candidates
Eligibility requirements
- Players who played in at least 10 major league seasons, who are not on Major League Baseball's ineligibility list, and have been retired for 21 or more seasons.
- Managers and umpires with 10 or more years in baseball and retired for at least five years. Candidates who are 65 years or older are eligible six months following retirement.
- Executives retired for at least five years. Active executives 65 years or older are eligible for consideration.
All candidates receiving votes on at least 75% of ballots cast will earn election.[2]
2011 Election (for Hall of Fame class of 2012)
(Major League Baseball Winter Meeting, December 5, 2011)
Golden Era Committee members
The Baseball Hall of Fame officially named this group the "Golden Era Committee" ("The Committee"), which voted for the first time on December 5, 2011:
- Committee chairman and secretary (non-voting) (Chairman of the Board of Directs of the Hall of Fame): Jane Forbes Clark
- Hall of Famers (8): Hank Aaron, Pat Gillick, Al Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Tommy Lasorda, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, Billy Williams
- Executives (5): Paul Beeston (Toronto Blue Jays), Bill Dewitt (St. Louis Cardinals), Ronald Hemond (Arizona Diamondbacks), Gene Michael (New York Yankees, and Al Rosen (retired).
- Media members (3): Dick Kaegel, Jack O'Connell, and Dave Van Dyck.
Golden Era ballot and vote totals
The Golden Era Committee elected Ron Santo to the National Baseball Hall of Fame with 15 out of 16 of their votes. With a 75 percent vote needed for election,[3] Santo was the first and only Golden Era Ballot candidate (10)[4] elected to the Hall of Fame Class of 2012.[5] The Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held on Sunday, July 22, 2012 in Cooperstown, New York.[6]
- Ron Santo - 15 (93.75%)
- Jim Kaat - 10 (62.5%)
- Gil Hodges - 9
- Minnie Minoso - 9
- Tony Oliva - 8
- Buzzie Bavasi - 3
- Ken Boyer - 3
- Charlie Finley - 3
- Allie Reynolds - 3
- Luis Tiant - 3
2014 Election (for Hall of Fame class of 2015)
(Major League Baseball Winter Meeting, December 8, 2014)
Golden Era Committee members
The Golden Era Committee's 16-member voting electorate, appointed by the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors, was announced at the same time as the ballot of 10 candidates.[7] All of the Hall of Fame members on this committee were inducted as players, except for executive Pat Gillick.
- Committee chairman and secretary (non-voting) (Chairman of the Board of Directs of the Hall of Fame): Jane Forbes Clark
- Hall of Famers (8): Jim Bunning, Rod Carew, Pat Gillick, Ferguson Jenkins, Al Kaline, Joe Morgan, Ozzie Smith, Don Sutton
- Executives (4): Jim Frey, David Glass, Roland Hemond, Bob Watson
- Media (4): Steve Hirdt, Dick Kaegel, Phil Pepe, Tracy Ringolsby
Golden Era ballot and vote totals
The ballot for election by the Golden Era Committee was released on October 30, 2014;[8] the committee voted at the MLB winter meetings in San Diego on December 8, 2014, with the results announced by MLB immediately thereafter. The cutoff for election and summer 2015 induction remained the standard 75%, or 12 of 16 votes.[7] None of the candidates received enough votes, continuing a long period of difficulty in electing players eligible under the Hall's special committees; the last living player elected to the Hall after the expiration of their BBWAA eligibility was Bill Mazeroski in 2001.[9]
| Candidate | Category | Votes | Percent | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Allen | Player | 11 | 68.8% | |
| Tony Oliva | Player | 11 | 68.8% | |
| Jim Kaat | Player | 10 | 62.5% | |
| Maury Wills | Player | 9 | 56.3% | |
| Minnie Miñoso | Player | 8 | 50% | |
| Ken Boyer | Player | < 3 | < 18.8% | |
| Gil Hodges | Player | < 3 | < 18.8% | |
| Bob Howsam | Executive | < 3 | < 18.8% | |
| Billy Pierce | Player | < 3 | < 18.8% | |
| Luis Tiant | Player | < 3 | < 18.8% |
References
- ↑ National Baseball Hall of Fame: Eras: Golden. Rules for election
- ↑ National Baseball Hall of Fame: Eras: Golden, Rules for election
- ↑ "Santo, Hodges among 10 on Golden Era ballot". Archived from the original on 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "Ten Named to Golden Era Ballot for Baseball Hall of Fame" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame. November 3, 2011.
- ↑ "Ron Santo Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by Golden Era Committee" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame. December 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Ron Santo Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 1 2 "Newest Hall of Fame Candidates Announced" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Baseball Hall of Fame 2015: Hodges, Oliva, Allen, Tiant among candidates". Sporting News. October 30, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ↑ "All Golden Era candidates fall short". espn.go.com. December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.