Why no "first ballot" HOFer between 1936 & 1962?

[MyDogSparty]

I've think I've read the answer here before but I can't find it. Why were there no first ballot HOFers between the years 1936 and 1962? It had something to do with a backlog and then the wars right?

[White Knight]

I've think I've read the answer here before but I can't find it. Why were there no first ballot HOFers between the years 1936 and 1962? It had something to do with a backlog and then the wars right?

That can't be true. Off the top of my head, Gehrig and DiMaggio were first ballot and retired between those years.

[ol' aches and pains]

Gehrig was enshrined in a special election in 1939, the same year he retired. Dimaggio was first ballot, as was Carl Hubbel.

[Brooklyn]

Gehrig was enshrined in a special election in 1939, the same year he retired. Dimaggio was first ballot, as was Carl Hubbel.

DiMaggio was not first ballot. There was no five year wait back then. He was on the 1953 and 1954 ballots before being enshrined in 1955.

Carl hubbell was on the 1945 and 1946 ballots before being elected in 1947

[ol' aches and pains]

DiMaggio was not first ballot. There was no five year wait back then. He was on the 1953 and 1954 ballots before being enshrined in 1955.

Carl hubbell was on the 1945 and 1946 ballots before being elected in 1947

Oh, I didn't realize the five-year waiting period didn't apply then. So I guess there really weren't any.

[dgarza]

Gehrig was enshrined in a special election in 1939, the same year he retired.

Gehrig also appeared on the 1936 ballot.

[dgarza]

I've think I've read the answer here before but I can't find it. Why were there no first ballot HOFers between the years 1936 and 1962? It had something to do with a backlog and then the wars right?

There was a large backlog. And from 1936-1966, there were 9 years in which they did not take the regular BBWAA vote.

Consider:

In 1942, the Top 30 vote-getters are now HOFers.
In 1945, the Top 33 vote-getters are now HOFers.
In 1950, the Top 23 vote-getters are now HOFers.
In 1960, the Top 16 vote-getters are now HOFers.

For the 2012 vote, the Top 16th player was Vinny Castilla. The Top 23rd player was Ruben Sierra. Neither are likely future HOFers, to make an understatement.

The Top 23rd player:
2012 - Ruben Sierra
2002 - Lenny Dykstra
1992 - Vida Blue
1982 - Thurman Munson
1972 - Johnny Sain
1962 - Lou Bourdeau - HOFer
1952 - Edd Roush - HOFer
1942 - Ray Schalk - HOFer
1936 - Frankie Frisch - HOFer

[Brooklyn]

There was a large backlog. And from 1936-1966, there were 9 years in which they did not take the regular BBWAA vote.

Consider:

In 1942, the Top 30 vote-getters are now HOFers.
In 1945, the Top 33 vote-getters are now HOFers.
In 1950, the Top 23 vote-getters are now HOFers.
In 1960, the Top 16 vote-getters are now HOFers.

For the 2012 vote, the Top 16th player was Vinny Castilla. The Top 23rd player was Ruben Sierra. Neither are likely future HOFers, to make an understatement.

The Top 23rd player:
2012 - Ruben Sierra
2002 - Lenny Dykstra
1992 - Vida Blue
1982 - Thurman Munson
1972 - Johnny Sain
1962 - Lou Bourdeau - HOFer
1952 - Edd Roush - HOFer
1942 - Ray Schalk - HOFer
1936 - Frankie Frisch - HOFer

good post.

Sain was always an interesting case for me. His playing career clearly was under the mark - he really only had 3 dominant years. But also considering his time as a pitching coach makes him much more borderline

[Freakshow]

Gehrig also appeared on the 1936 ballot.

Well, he was eligible that year and received votes. But they didn't use a ballot with candidates' names preprinted on it ready to check off. Many voters weren't sure who they could or couldn't vote for.

After 1936, active players were no longer eligible. From the beginning, the HOF rules have been revised as the need arose in reaction to criticism.

[Freakshow]

Oh, I didn't realize the five-year waiting period didn't apply then. So I guess there really weren't any.

BBWAA rules history.

[dgarza]

Well, he was eligible that year and received votes. But they didn't use a ballot with candidates' names preprinted on it ready to check off.

Yeah, I hesitated using the word "ballot," but caved in anyway. Point being, he received votes in previous years.