Hall of Fame Announces Updates From February Board Meeting

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Directors today announced a number of updates following the Board meeting that took place on Feb. 26 in Orlando, Fla.

Several initiatives were discussed at the recent Board meeting, including the upcoming multi-million-dollar renovation of an adjoining property that will significantly expand the Hall of Fame’s Museum Store. The 9,000-square foot, baseball-themed addition will provide direct access from Main Street and expanded offerings in women’s apparel, youth apparel and several other categories while creating a more visitor-friendly experience. The façade of the new Museum Store on Main Street will seamlessly match the iconic entrance to the Hall of Fame.

The Board was also briefed on the Museum’s early efforts toward accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, which will further align practices across all areas of museum operations with modern standards. The Fenimore Art Museum and the Fenimore Farm and Country Village, two other renowned Cooperstown museums, have both attained this distinguished accreditation.

In addition, the Board announced two adjustments to the Era Committee system, which provides an avenue for Hall of Fame consideration to managers, umpires and executives, as well as players retired for more than 15 seasons. It clarified that members of the Historical Overview Committee, the body that develops ballots for Hall of Fame consideration by the Era Committee, who are appointed by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will also be approved by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors. The Board also adjusted eligibility for candidates via the Era Committee system.

“The Board met for a very productive session last week to review many of our ongoing initiatives,” said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are excited to be enhancing the retail experience for our Museum visitors and about sustaining the level of excellence that accompanies AAM accreditation. The Era Committee eligibility adjustments are the outcome of years-long discussions centered on ensuring that more candidates have the chance to be reviewed as part of this process.”

Beginning with the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for players, which will be reviewed in December 2025, any candidate who appears on a ballot and does not receive votes from at least five of the 16 voters will not be eligible to be placed on the ballot within its next three-year cycle. Any such candidates would remain eligible to return to an Era Committee ballot in the following election cycle.

Additionally, beginning in 2025, any candidate that does not receive at least five of 16 votes in multiple appearances on Era Committee ballots will not be eligible for future ballot consideration.

Candidates who receive at least five of 16 votes will remain eligible for the following cycle of Era Committee consideration but will not necessarily be placed on the subsequent ballot. The makeup of the ballot is reconstructed each year based on all eligible candidates by the Historical Overview Committee. Members of the Historical Overview Committee are appointed by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and approved by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.

The Era Committee process is divided into three groups, rotating on an annual basis, with each ballot consisting of eight candidates. The three groups cover two timeframes: the Contemporary Baseball Era, consisting of the period from 1980 to present day, and the Classic Baseball Era, consisting of the period prior to 1980. The Contemporary Baseball Era is 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. Ballots are considered each December at the Baseball Winter Meetings.

Upcoming Era Committee election cycles feature the Contemporary Baseball Era players ballot in the fall of 2025, the Contemporary Baseball Era managers, executives and umpires ballot in the fall of 2026 and the Classic Baseball Era in the fall of 2027. The three-year cycle then repeats.

In addition to Board Chairman Jane Forbes Clark, whose grandfather, Stephen C. Clark, founded the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors also includes: Vice-Chairman Joe Torre, Treasurer Kevin Moore, Paul Beeston, Craig Biggio, Bill DeWitt, Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey Jr., Ken Kendrick, Rob Manfred, Arte Moreno, Kim Ng, Jerry Reinsdorf, Cal Ripken Jr., Harvey Schiller, Ozzie Smith and Thomas Tull. Complete bios on board members can be found at www.baseballhall.org/museum/board-of-directors.