PLEASE READ BEFORE VOTING!
Last year we conducted mock Hall of Fame elections beginning with 1979. That project proved very successful, so we’re going to try it again, but this time start at 1901.
Format and Rules
For the sake of simplification, convenience, and continuity, we will adopt the rules currently employed by the BBWAA and apply them throughout, with the exception of modifications made for the 1901 election as described below:
- Voting Rules: Voters may vote for between 0-10 candidates. A "None of the Above" option is available if you believe no one is worthy and you wish to submit a blank ballot. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR BALLOT TO 10 VOTES AT MOST. EXCESS VOTES MAY RESULT IN YOUR BALLOT BEING DISQUALIFIED. Votes will be made public so we can ensure that people are not voting for more than 10 candidates (I also encourage you to not view the results until after you cast your vote).
- Editing Ballots: Please review and consider your ballot thoroughly before submitting, as requests for editing ballots after the fact will generally not be honored. Exceptions might be made if a voter accidentally checked on a wrong player, or accidentally went over the 10 player limit (but in both instances, I strongly encourage you do your best to prevent either from happening).
- Required Support: 75% support or greater will elect a player. Players receiving less than 5% will be dropped from all future elections . Players receiving 5% or more but less than 75% will stay on the ballot for the next election, unless that player's 15-year eligibility is over (see next paragraph).
- Player Eligibility: Players eligible for an election will have last played at least 5 years prior to the election year and have appeared in at least 10 major league seasons. Players will remain on the ballot for 15 years, provided they continue to receive at least 5% of the vote.
- Election Period: Elections will close exactly a week after starting. The next election might not commence for another day or two.
1901 Rule Modifications
Given that this is the first election and thus more history to cover than subsequent elections, the following rule modifications will apply:
-Player Eligibility: Taking into account that the conditions of the day may have prevented extended careers, the 10 year rule is modified so that players appearing in at least 7 major league seasons between 1871 and 1896 will be eligible. Players from before this period, or who do not meet the 7 year requirement, will be eligible for the Veterans Committee (likely imaginary), provided their last appearance was no later than 1881. If a player retired by 1896 but subsequently reappeared before 1901, they will not be eligible for this election and will be eligible 5 years from their last appearance (for example, Arlie Latham seemingly last played in 1896, but appeared again in 1899, so his first year of eligibility will be in 1904 (he might become eligible again in 1914 as well due to a brief appearance in 1909)).
- More Player Eligibility: Every player eligible for this election will have 15 years of eligibility regardless of when they retired prior to 1896 (provided they played at least 7 seasons and continue to meet the 5% rule).
- Ballot Size: The 1901 ballot will likely be larger than usual (78 candidates) to account for the longer historical period. So while this ballot might look cumbersome due to its length, it should not be indicative of a typical ballot.
- Support Requirements: The 5% drop rule is waived for this election to account for a potentially large number of worthy candidates. However, a player must receive at least one vote in order to be on the 1902 ballot (at which point the 5% rule will apply).
Guide
Future elections will contain a more detailed guide summarizing past results and the status of candidates on the current ballot.
Actual Hall of Fame Players on Ballot (10):
Last year we conducted mock Hall of Fame elections beginning with 1979. That project proved very successful, so we’re going to try it again, but this time start at 1901.
Format and Rules
For the sake of simplification, convenience, and continuity, we will adopt the rules currently employed by the BBWAA and apply them throughout, with the exception of modifications made for the 1901 election as described below:
- Voting Rules: Voters may vote for between 0-10 candidates. A "None of the Above" option is available if you believe no one is worthy and you wish to submit a blank ballot. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR BALLOT TO 10 VOTES AT MOST. EXCESS VOTES MAY RESULT IN YOUR BALLOT BEING DISQUALIFIED. Votes will be made public so we can ensure that people are not voting for more than 10 candidates (I also encourage you to not view the results until after you cast your vote).
- Editing Ballots: Please review and consider your ballot thoroughly before submitting, as requests for editing ballots after the fact will generally not be honored. Exceptions might be made if a voter accidentally checked on a wrong player, or accidentally went over the 10 player limit (but in both instances, I strongly encourage you do your best to prevent either from happening).
- Required Support: 75% support or greater will elect a player. Players receiving less than 5% will be dropped from all future elections . Players receiving 5% or more but less than 75% will stay on the ballot for the next election, unless that player's 15-year eligibility is over (see next paragraph).
- Player Eligibility: Players eligible for an election will have last played at least 5 years prior to the election year and have appeared in at least 10 major league seasons. Players will remain on the ballot for 15 years, provided they continue to receive at least 5% of the vote.
- Election Period: Elections will close exactly a week after starting. The next election might not commence for another day or two.
1901 Rule Modifications
Given that this is the first election and thus more history to cover than subsequent elections, the following rule modifications will apply:
-Player Eligibility: Taking into account that the conditions of the day may have prevented extended careers, the 10 year rule is modified so that players appearing in at least 7 major league seasons between 1871 and 1896 will be eligible. Players from before this period, or who do not meet the 7 year requirement, will be eligible for the Veterans Committee (likely imaginary), provided their last appearance was no later than 1881. If a player retired by 1896 but subsequently reappeared before 1901, they will not be eligible for this election and will be eligible 5 years from their last appearance (for example, Arlie Latham seemingly last played in 1896, but appeared again in 1899, so his first year of eligibility will be in 1904 (he might become eligible again in 1914 as well due to a brief appearance in 1909)).
- More Player Eligibility: Every player eligible for this election will have 15 years of eligibility regardless of when they retired prior to 1896 (provided they played at least 7 seasons and continue to meet the 5% rule).
- Ballot Size: The 1901 ballot will likely be larger than usual (78 candidates) to account for the longer historical period. So while this ballot might look cumbersome due to its length, it should not be indicative of a typical ballot.
- Support Requirements: The 5% drop rule is waived for this election to account for a potentially large number of worthy candidates. However, a player must receive at least one vote in order to be on the 1902 ballot (at which point the 5% rule will apply).
Guide
Future elections will contain a more detailed guide summarizing past results and the status of candidates on the current ballot.
Actual Hall of Fame Players on Ballot (10):
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Player Election Year Dan Brouthers 1945 (VC) John Clarkson 1963 (VC) Pud Galvin 1965 (VC) Tim Keefe 1964 (VC) King Kelly 1945 (VC) Tommy McCarthy 1946 (VC) Jim O’Rourke 1945 (VC) Charley Radbourn 1939 (VC) John Ward 1964 (VC) Mickey Welch 1973 (VC)
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