The Hall of Fame adjusts eligibility requirements
Photo credit: https://www.baseballhall.org
The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has announced a slight change to its Era Committees eligibility.
Beginning with this year's upcoming election, any candidate who receives less than five votes is not eligible for the next cycle whereas any candidate who receives less than four is permanently ineligible from future votes. A candidate needs 12 out of possible 16 votes to be elected. This is a slightly lower threshold than the 75% needed on the BBWAA Ballot.
There are two reasons behind this: first, it brings the Era Committees in line with the writers ballot, where a needs to garner 5% of the vote to remain in consideration for subsequent years. Secondly, it allows the Hall to diversify their slate by not having the same figures come up for election.
However, the change is not retroactive, meaning that if a candidate received less than four votes in the past, they are eligible in future elections. This is good news for Blue Jays fans, of whom many want to see former manager Cito Gaston elected.
The Era Committees process is on a rotating three-year cycle. In one year, it'll consider individuals from the «Classic Baseball Era» - those whose most significant contributions to the sport came before 1980, including veterans of the Negro Leagues.
Under the new system however, any candidate receiving less than five votes, won't be allowed back on the ballot when their consideration comes up again in three years. They may considered four-plus years down the line.
This past cycle say Dick Allen and Dave Parker elected from the Classic Era Committee
This December will see players from the contemporary era - whose contributions to baseball were from 1980 onward - get their turn. The ballot will be announced in November.
