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2020 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting

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2020 Balloting for the National
 Baseball Hall of Fame 
New inducteesTBD
via BBWAATBA
via Modern Baseball Era Committee2
Induction dateJuly 26, 2020
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2012

Elections to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for 2020 are proceeding according to rules most recently amended in 2016. As in the past, the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is voting by mail to select from a ballot of recently retired players. The results are expected to be announced in late January 2020.[1]

The Modern Baseball Era Committee, one of four voting panels that since 2016 have taken over the role of the more broadly defined Veterans Committee,[2][3] convened at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in December 2019 to select from a ballot of retired players and non-playing personnel who made their greatest contributions to the sport in the 1970–1987 period.[3] The committee elected former player Ted Simmons and former executive Marvin Miller to the hall of fame.[4]

The formal induction ceremony will be held at the Hall's facilities in Cooperstown, New York, on July 26, 2020.[5][6]

BBWAA election

The BBWAA election rules are largely identical to those that were in effect for the most recent elections. The most recent change to BBWAA voting rules, announced in 2015, tightened the qualifications for the BBWAA electorate. Beginning with the 2016 election, eligible voters must not only have 10 years of continuous BBWAA membership, but also be currently active members. When these changes were announced, the pool of eligible voters also included those who had held active status within the 10 years prior to the election. A BBWAA member who has not been active for more than 10 years can regain voting status by covering MLB in the year preceding the election.[7] However, as of the 2020 balloting process, the BBWAA and Hall of Fame have apparently redefined "active membership" to remove the vote from anyone who did not cover MLB games for two years, instead of 10.[8]

On November 18, the Hall of Fame released the list of players on the ballot,[9] which is presented below.

The ballot includes two categories of players:

  • Candidates from the 2019 ballot who received at least 5% of the vote but were not elected, as long as they first appeared on the BBWAA ballot no earlier than 2010. There are 14 such players, including Larry Walker, who is in his 10th and final year of eligibility. Players who appeared on the 2019 ballot are listed in the order of votes they received.[1]
  • Selected individuals, chosen by a screening committee, whose last MLB appearance was in 2014. The screening committee selected 18 such players. Players who are appearing on the ballot for the first time are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Derek Jeter in 2007

Players who met first-year eligibility requirements but were not selected by the screening committee for inclusion on the ballot were: Mike Adams, Jason Bartlett, Erik Bedard, John Buck, Shawn Camp, Ronny Cedeño, Endy Chavez, Greg Dobbs, Ryan Doumit, Scott Downs, Mark Ellis, Kyle Farnsworth, Frank Francisco, Álex González, Matt Guerrier, Scott Hairston, Koyie Hill, Maicer Izturis, Jason Kubel, Brandon League, Ryan Ludwick, Paul Maholm, John McDonald, Nate McLouth, José Molina, Xavier Nady, Miguel Olivo, Lyle Overbay, Nick Punto, Humberto Quintero, Guillermo Quiroz, Ramón Santiago, Joe Saunders, Marco Scutaro, Josh Willingham and Jamey Wright.[5]

The Hall itself is apparently treating Jeter's induction as a foregone conclusion; since shortly after Jeter's retirement, it has maintained a page on its official website that includes the following statement:

While nothing is ever assured when it comes to election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (after all, it is the responsibility of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to vote on each year’s candidates), who among us would doubt that Jeter is a sure-fire first-ballot choice when he becomes eligible in 2020?[10]

Modern Baseball Era Committee

On July 23, 2016, the Hall of Fame announced changes to the Era Committee system. The system's timeframes were restructured to place a greater emphasis on the modern game, and to reduce the frequency at which individuals from the pre-1970 game (including Negro league baseball figures) will have their careers reviewed.[3] Considering candidates whose greatest contributions occurred from 1970 to 1987, the Modern Baseball Era Committee will meet in 2019 as part of the elections for the next calendar year.

Further information: Veterans Committee § 2016 revisions

The Historical Overview Committee, which determined the Modern Baseball Era ballot this fall, is composed of 11 veteran historians: Bob Elliott (Canadian Baseball Network); Jim Henneman (formerly Baltimore Sun)[11][12]; Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch); Steve Hirdt (formerly Elias Sports Bureau); Bill Madden (formerly New York Daily News); Jack O’Connell (BBWAA)[13]; Jim Reeves (formerly Fort Worth Star-Telegram); Tracy Ringolsby (InsideTheSeams.com); Glenn Schwarz (formerly San Francisco Chronicle); Dave van Dyck (formerly Chicago Tribune); and Mark Whicker (Los Angeles News Group)[14]. [15]

The cutoff for election to the Hall of Fame remains the standard 75%; as the Modern Baseball Era Committee consists of 16 members, 12 votes is the minimum for selection. The 16-member Hall of Fame Board-appointed electorate charged with the review of the Modern Baseball Era features Hall of Fame members George Brett, Rod Carew, Dennis Eckersley, Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith and Robin Yount; major league executives Sandy Alderson, Dave Dombrowski, David Glass, Walt Jocketty, Doug Melvin and Terry Ryan; and veteran media members/historians Bill Center [16], Steve Hirdt, Jack O’Connell[17] and Tracy Ringolsby. [18]

The most recent prior Modern Baseball Era Committee balloting was for 2018, which selected Jack Morris and Alan Trammell to the Hall of Fame. Considered, but not elected, on that ballot were players Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Ted Simmons, and Luis Tiant.[19] Also on the ballot was Marvin Miller, the former leader of the Major League Baseball Players Association union.[19] Of those eight, Simmons came within one vote (11) of being elected, while Miller had seven votes; the other six candidates each received less than seven votes, as their vote totals were not released to the public.[19]

On November 4, 2019, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced the below ten candidates for the Modern Baseball Era ballot, to be voted upon at the Baseball Winter Meetings on December 8.[20] Miller and Munson were the only candidates who were deceased when the list was announced.[20] Results of the committee's voting were announced on December 8; Miller and Simmons each received at least 75% of the votes, earning election to the Hall of Fame.[21]

Candidate Category Votes Percent Ref
Ted Simmons† Player 13 81.3% [4]
Marvin Miller† Executive 12 75% [4]
Dwight Evans Player 8 50% [4]
Dave Parker† Player 7 43.8% [4]
Steve Garvey† Player 6 37.5% [4]
Lou Whitaker Player 6 37.5% [4]
Tommy John† Player 3 or fewer [4]
Don Mattingly† Player 3 or fewer [4]
Thurman Munson Player 3 or fewer [4]
Dale Murphy† Player 3 or fewer [4]

† person was previously a 2018 candidate

Those not elected will remain potential candidates for the next Modern Era Committee ballot for 2023.

J. G. Taylor Spink Award

The J. G. Taylor Spink Award has been presented by the BBWAA at the annual summer induction ceremonies since 1962.[22] Through 2010, it was awarded during the main induction ceremony, but is now given the previous day at the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation. It recognizes a sportswriter "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing".[23] The recipients are not members of the Hall of Fame but are featured in a permanent exhibit at the National Baseball Museum.

The three finalists for the 2020 award were announced on July 9, 2019, during the All-Star break.[24]

On December 10, 2019, Cafardo was named the 2020 award recipient.[25]

Ford C. Frick Award

Various changes in July 2016 were also made to the annual Ford C. Frick Award elections, presented annually to a preeminent baseball broadcaster since 1978. According to the Hall, the new criteria for selection are "Commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers."

Additionally, a ballot of eight candidates is now set, down from 10 in years past. The three ballot slots previously determined by fan voting on Facebook are now filled by a committee of historians.

A new election cycle has been established, rotating annually between Current Major League Markets (team-specific announcers) with the 2017 Frick Award; National Voices (broadcasters whose contributions were realized on a national level) with the 2018 Frick Award; and Broadcasting Beginnings (early team voices and pioneers of baseball broadcasting) with the 2019 Frick Award. Since this cycle repeats every three years, all finalists for the 2020 award were team-specific announcers.[3]

The Hall announced finalists for the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award on November 1, 2019. Of the finalists, the only one not living at that time was Ned Martin, who died in 2002.[26] Ken "Hawk" Harrelson was announced as the winner on December 11.[27]

Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award

Buck O'Neil in 2005

Another Hall of Fame honor, the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, is expected to be presented at the 2020 Awards Presentation. The award was created in 2008 in honor of Buck O'Neil, a Negro leagues star who went on to become one of baseball's leading ambassadors until his death in 2006. The first award was presented posthumously to O'Neil at the 2008 induction ceremony, and has since been presented three additional times, most recently to Rachel Robinson in 2017. According to the Hall,

The Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Hall of Fame's Board of Directors not more than once every three years to honor an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseball's positive impact on society, broadened the game's appeal, and whose character, integrity and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by O'Neil.[28]

As with the media awards, recipients are not members of the Hall of Fame but are permanently recognized by the Hall. In this case, the recipients are listed alongside a life-size statue of O'Neil that stands at the entrance to the museum. Written nominations for the award are accepted by mail at any time; the nomination must specifically state how the nominee meets the traits exemplified by O'Neil.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b Schoenfield, David (January 22, 2019). "Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina joining Hall of Fame". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Hall of Fame Board of Directors Restructures Procedures for Consideration of Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. July 26, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Hall of Fame Makes Series of Announcements" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. July 23, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons Elected to Hall Of Fame". baseballhall.org. December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Future Eligibles". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "2019 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "Hall of Fame Announces Change to BBWAA Voting Electorate" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Dunn, Jay (December 4, 2019). "I want to vote for Derek Jeter, but after 37 years the Hall of Fame took my vote away". The Trentonian. Trenton, New Jersey. Retrieved December 4, 2019. The current rule is that anyone who did not actively cover major league games in the past two years is not eligible to vote for the Hall. Two years? Heck, a ball player's name doesn't even appear on the ballot until he's been retired for five years.
  9. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (November 18, 2019). "Here's the 2020 Hall of Fame ballot". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  10. ^ "Countdown to 2020". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  11. ^ https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Jim-Henneman/2111971946
  12. ^ https://www.pressboxonline.com/jim-henneman
  13. ^ Jack O'Connell Bio https://mlblogscutoffman.wordpress.com/about-jack-oconnell/
  14. ^ https://www.dailynews.com/author/mark-whicker/
  15. ^ https://www.allotsego.com/133305-2/
  16. ^ https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-bill-center-staff.html
  17. ^ Jack O'Connell Bio https://mlblogscutoffman.wordpress.com/about-jack-oconnell/
  18. ^ https://www.allotsego.com/133305-2/
  19. ^ a b c Axisa, Mike (December 10, 2017). "Jack Morris and Alan Trammell voted into Hall of Fame by Modern Era Committee". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "2020 MODERN BASEBALL ERA BALLOT". baseballhall.org. November 4, 2019.
  21. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (December 8, 2019). "Miller, Simmons elected to HOF on Modern Era ballot". MLB.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  22. ^ "J.G. Taylor Spink Award". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  23. ^ "Awards: J. G. Taylor Spink". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  24. ^ "Star Tribune's Patrick Reusse nominated for top baseball writing award". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  25. ^ "Nick Cafardo Wins 2020 Spink Award". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  26. ^ "2020 Ford C. Frick Award Ballot" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. November 1, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  27. ^ Merkin, Scott (December 11, 2019). "Ken Harrelson named Frick Award winner". MLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Buck O'Neil Award". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
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