ERA COMMITTEES
The Era Committee has been a part of the Hall of Fame voting process since the first class of electees in 1936, with the first Era Committee electees coming in 1937.
The Era Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, consider retired Major League players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized either prior to 1980 or after 1980.
In all its forms, the Era Committee has elected 183 individuals (117 major leaguers, 33 executives, 23 managers and 10 umpires) to the Hall of Fame.
Three ballots for consideration have been consolidated into two timeframes:
The Contemporary Baseball Era, consisting of the period from 1980 to present day.
The Classic Baseball Era, consisting of the period prior to 1980 and including Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues stars.
The Contemporary Baseball Era will split into two separate ballots – one ballot to consider only players who made their greatest impact on the game since 1980, and another composite ballot consisting of managers, executives and umpires whose greatest contributions to the game have come since 1980.
UPCOMING ERA COMMITTEES ELECTIONS
Contemporary Baseball Era/Player Ballot: December of 2025 for inclusion in the Class of 2026
Contemporary Baseball Era/Managers-Executives-Umpires Ballot: December of 2026 for inclusion in the Class of 2027
Classic Baseball Era: December of 2026 for inclusion in the Class of 2028
2025 Classic Baseball Era Committee Hall of Fame Electees
ERA COMMITTEES RULES
CONTEMPORARY BASEBALL ERA PLAYERS COMMITTEE (1980 TO PRESENT)
Rules for Election for Players for Contemporary Baseball Era Candidates to the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Name: The Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee ("The Committee") shall refer to the electorate that considers retired Major League Baseball players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) whose greatest contributions to the game were realized from the 1980 to present era.
Membership: The Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee shall consist of 16 members, comprised of members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall act as the non-voting chairman of the committee and shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee.
Method of Appointment: The Hall of Fame's Board of Directors shall appoint the Committee.
Term – Each appointee is to serve for a renewable term, with the Committee scheduled to meet on a cycle of once every three years.
Time and Place of Election – Beginning in 2022, an election for Contemporary Baseball Era Player candidates shall be held once every three years at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. A quorum will consist of three-fourths of the total membership of the committee. Proxies are permitted in emergency situations only. In the absence of a quorum, a conference call with absent committee members will be permitted.
CONTEMPORARY BASEBALL ERA NON-PLAYERS COMMITTEE (1980 TO PRESENT)
Rules for Election for Managers, Umpires and Executives for Contemporary Baseball Era Candidates to the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Name: The Contemporary Baseball Non-Players Committee ("The Committee") shall refer to the electorate that considers retired managers, umpires and executives whose greatest contributions to the game were realized from the 1980-present era.
Membership: The Contemporary Baseball Non-Players Committee shall consist of 16 members, comprised of members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall act as the non-voting chairman of the committee and shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee.
Method of Appointment: The Hall of Fame's Board of Directors shall appoint the Committee.
Term – Each appointee is to serve for a renewable term, with the Committee scheduled to meet on a cycle of once every three years.
Time and Place of Election – Beginning in 2023, an election for Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Player candidates shall be held once every three years at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. A quorum will consist of three-fourths of the total membership of the committee. Proxies are permitted in emergency situations only. In the absence of a quorum, a conference call with absent committee members will be permitted.
CLASSIC BASEBALL ERA (PRIOR TO 1980)
Rules for Election for Managers, Umpires, Executives and Players for Classic Baseball Era Candidates to the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Name: The Classic Baseball Committee ("The Committee") shall refer to the electorate that considers retired Major League Baseball players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized prior to 1980.
Membership: The Classic Baseball Committee shall consist of 16 members, comprised of members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall act as the non-voting chairman of the committee and shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee.
Method of Appointment: The Hall of Fame's Board of Directors shall appoint the Committee.
Term – Each appointee is to serve for a renewable term, with the Committee scheduled to meet on a cycle of once every three years.
Time and Place of Election – Beginning in 2024, an election for Classic Baseball Era candidates shall be held once every three years at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. A quorum will consist of three-fourths of the total membership of the committee. Proxies are permitted in emergency situations only. In the absence of a quorum, a conference call with absent committee members will be permitted.
ERA COMMITTEES RULES FOR ELECTION
Eligible Candidates – Eligible candidates must be selected from:
(A) Eligible candidates must be selected from managers, umpires, executives and players, who meet the following criteria related to their classification:
- Players who played in at least 10 major league seasons, who are not on Major League Baseball's ineligible list, and have been retired for 15 or more seasons (Beginning in 2023, players will be required to have been retired for 16 or more seasons for consideration);
- Managers and umpires with 10 or more major league seasons 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 70 years or older are eligible for consideration regardless of the position they hold in an organization, and regardless of whether their body of work has been completed.
(B) Those whose careers entailed involvement in multiple categories will be considered for their overall contribution to the game of Baseball; however, the specific category in which these individuals shall be considered will be determined by the role in which they were most prominent. In those instances when a candidate is prominent as both a player and as a manager, executive or umpire, the BBWAA-appointed Historical Overview Committee shall determine that individual's category as a player, as a manager, as an umpire or as an executive/pioneer. Those designated as players must fulfill the requirements of (A).
(C) Any person designated by the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball as ineligible shall not be an eligible candidate.
Screening Committee
The BBWAA-appointed Historical Overview Committee shall serve as the Screening Committee and consist of 10-12 representatives. The Committee shall identify eight (8) candidates for the Contemporary Baseball Era Players, Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Players and Classic Baseball Era ballot.
Ballot Size
The final Ballot shall consist of eight (8) candidates for the Contemporary Baseball Era Players, Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Players and Classic Baseball Era ballots.
Voting
The Committee shall consider all candidates and voting shall be based upon the individual's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the game. Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as three (3) eligible candidates in the Contemporary Baseball Era Players, Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Players and Classic Baseball Era Election. Write-in votes are not permitted.
Number to be Elected
All candidates receiving votes on at least 75% of ballots cast will earn election.
Minutes/Certification
The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings, one copy of which is to be placed on file at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. The results of the election shall be certified by the Secretary of the Committee.
Amendments
The Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. reserves the right to revoke, alter or amend these rules at any time.
BBWAA ELECTION RULES
Since 1936, the Baseball Writers' Association of America has held the exclusive voting privilege to consider recently retired players for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
BBWAA ELECTION RULES HISTORY
In the 75-plus years of voting since, the process has evolved to reflect updated rules, most notably changes to the eligibility criteria and qualifications for earning election.
FUTURE ELIGIBLES
Provided that they remain retired, the following are partial lists of former Major League ballplayers who will become eligible for consideration by the BBWAA for election into the Hall of Fame in upcoming years.
BBWAA ELECTION RULES
Since 1936, the Baseball Writers' Association of America has held the exclusive voting privilege to consider recently retired players for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
BBWAA ELECTION RULES HISTORY
In the 75-plus years of voting since, the process has evolved to reflect updated rules, most notably changes to the eligibility criteria and qualifications for earning election.
FUTURE ELIGIBLES
Provided that they remain retired, the following are partial lists of former Major League ballplayers who will become eligible for consideration by the BBWAA for election into the Hall of Fame in upcoming years.