Veterans Committee


The Veterans Committee is the popular name of various committees of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum that elect participants other than recently retired players.
Originally, it referenced the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players; a former voting committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame that provided an opportunity for Hall of Fame enshrinement to all individuals who are eligible for induction but ineligible for consideration by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The term "Veterans Committee" is taken from the body's former official name: National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans.
In July 2010, the Veterans Committee name was changed by the Hall of Fame's board of directors and its name was no longer officially used by the Hall of Fame, which established three 16-member voting committees by era, although the term "Veterans Committee" remains in use by some sports media:
Those three committees met on a rotating cycle once every three years to elect candidates from each era to the Hall of Fame that were identified by a BBWAA-appointed screening group named the Historical Overview Committee, consisting of 10 to 12 representative BBWAA members. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the three separate era committees had been responsible for considering a total of thirty-two candidates from three eras in the following categories: managers, umpires, executives, and long-retired players.
In July 2016, the Hall of Fame announced a restructuring of the timeframes to be considered, with a much greater emphasis on modern eras, establishing four committees. Those major league players, managers, umpires and executives who excelled before 1950, as well Negro league baseball stars, will still have an opportunity to have their careers reviewed, but with less frequency.
The Veterans Committee can be traced back to 1939 when Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis formed the Old-Timers Committee to put players from the 19th century in the Hall of Fame. In 1939, the committee selected five players. In 1944, after Landis' death, they put him in the Hall. After Landis, they put 23 additional players in the Hall.
In 1953, the Veterans Committee met for the first time under the name Committee on Baseball Veterans. With 11 members, they elected six players in their first vote in 1953. Starting in 1955, they would meet to elect up to two players in odd-numbered years.
In 1959, Lee Allen succeeded Ernest Lanigan as Hall of Fame historian. According to Bill James, Paul Kerr would generally convince the Veterans Committee to select those Lee Allen had suggested to him, until Allen's death in 1969.
In 1961, the Veterans Committee was expanded from 11 members to 12.
In 1962, the Veterans Committee went back to annual elections to the Hall of Fame, with the continued mandate to elect up to two players a year.
In 1971, the Veterans Committee made seven selections, the largest class the Veterans Committee ever chose in its history since 1953. Partly in response to such a large class, the Veterans Committee was then limited to selecting two players and one non-player every year.
as a player, c.1919
Frankie Frisch was a major voice on the committee in the 1970s. The old Hall of Famer, backed by former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Bill Terry and sportswriters J. Roy Stockton and Fred Lieb, who covered Frisch's teams, managed to get five of his teammates elected to the Hall by the committee. Additionally, in the three years after his death, two more teammates were elected. After Frisch died and Terry left the Committee, elections were normalized.
After the 1977 election, the Veterans Committee was limited to two selections overall per year.
In 1978, membership increased to 15 members; five Hall of Famers, five owners and executives, and five sportswriters. The members would meet in Florida during spring training to elect a player or two every year.
The Veterans Committee mandate of up to two players was increased briefly from 1995 to 2001. In these years, the committee could elect one extra player from the Negro leagues and one from the 19th century in addition to the two regular players.
Starting in 1995, the Veterans Committee met in closed sessions to elect as many as two executives, managers, umpires, and older major league players—the categories considered in all its meetings since 1953. By a new arrangement it separately considered candidates from the Negro leagues and from the 19th century with authority to select one from each of those, via two special ballots. The older players eligible were those with ten major league seasons beginning 1946 or earlier; those who received at least 100 votes from the BBWAA in some election up to 1992; and those who received at least 60% support in some election beginning 1993. Players on Major League Baseball's ineligible list cannot be elected. The committee can elect up to four people each year.
was elected by the Veterans Committee in 2001.
During much of its existence, the Veterans Committee consisted of 15 members selected by the Hall of Fame for defined terms. A six-man subcommittee of this group met as a screening committee to determine who would be on the ballot. The committee met annually to consider candidates in four separate categories: players, managers, umpires, and executives. The Veterans Committee met privately, and its ballots and voting results were generally not revealed prior to 2003. From the mid-1970s until 2001, the top candidate in each category was elected to the Hall of Fame if he earned at least 75% of the committee's votes.
The Board of Directors reformed the system radically with new rules enacted in August 2001. Formerly, 15 members were appointed to limited terms; the new Veterans Committee would comprise all living members of the Hall, plus recipients of the Spink and Frick awards to writers and broadcasters. In particular, the new members were 61 living Hall of Famers, 13 living recipients of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award, 13 living recipients of the Ford C. Frick Award, and three members of the previous committee with terms that had not yet expired. Elections for players retired more than 20 years would be held every other year and elections for would be held every fourth year. The first cycle for both categories would be in 2002 and 2003 for induction in 2003.

Revisions to the voting process

2001 revisions

In 2001, the Hall of Fame radically changed the composition and election procedures for the Veterans Committee, which was revised to consist of:
All members of the former Veterans Committee remained active until the expiration of their terms. Only two were on the committee for the 2003 election, the first under the new election procedures. Only one of the former Veterans Committee members remained on the committee for the 2005 and 2007 elections, and his term expired immediately after the 2007 election.
The election procedures instituted in 2003 are listed below. The procedures were [|changed again in 2007]. Rules, and portions thereof, that changed in 2007 are indicated in italics.
Using these procedures, no one was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2003, 2005, or 2007.

2007 revisions

Following the 2007 elections, the makeup of the committee was again changed, and several procedures were also modified:
;Changes affecting all elections
;Changes affecting player elections
;Pre-World War II players
;Changes affecting non-player elections
The threshold for induction remained at 75% of all who voted on the appropriate ballot. In the first election held under the new rules, two managers and three executives were elected in December 2007 as part of the 2008 election process.

2010 revisions

The Hall announced a new Veterans Committee voting process on June 26, 2010, effective with the 2011 election process that began late in 2010. The two biggest changes are:
Candidates will be classified by the time-periods that cover their greatest contributions:
Candidates from each era will be considered every third year, starting with the Expansion Era in the 2011 election, followed by the Golden Era and then by the Pre-Integration Era.
The existing Historical Overview Committee will formulate each ballot for release in the October or November before the next planned induction ceremony. The Expansion Era ballot will include 12 candidates, while the other two ballots will include ten each. The Hall's Board of Directors will select sixteen-member committees for each era, made up of Hall of Famers, executives, baseball historians, and media members. Each committee will convene at the Winter Meetings in December to consider and vote on candidates from its assigned era. As before, the threshold of induction will remain at 75% of those voting.

2016 revisions

On July 23, 2016, the Hall of Fame announced changes to the Era Committee system. Highlighting these changes is a restructuring of the timeframes to be considered, with a much greater emphasis on modern eras. Additionally, those major league players, managers, umpires and executives who excelled before 1950, as well Negro Leagues stars, will still have an opportunity to have their careers reviewed, but with less frequency.
Separate 16-member subcommittees will continue to vote on individuals from different eras of baseball, with candidates still being classified by the time-periods that cover their greatest contributions:
All committees' ballots will include ten candidates. Whilst there was previously a one-year waiting period after elimination from annual BBWAA consideration, there will now be no waiting period. The Today's Game and Modern Baseball committees will convene twice every 5 years, the Golden Days committee once every 5 years, and the Early Baseball committee once every 10 years.
Eras are considered on the following schedule, as part of the elections for the next calendar year :
Meeting yearInduction yearEra Committee meeting
20162017Today's Game
20172018Modern Baseball
20182019Today's Game
20192021Modern Baseball
20202021Golden Days, Early Baseball
20212022Today's Game
20222023Modern Baseball
20232024Today's Game
20242025Modern Baseball
20252026Golden Days
20262027Today's Game
20272028Modern Baseball
20282029Today's Game
20292030Modern Baseball
20302031Golden Days, Early Baseball

The criteria for committee eligibility differ for players, managers, and executives.

Today's Game (1988–present)

Players: Albert Belle, Will Clark, Orel Hershiser, Joe Carter, Mark McGwire, Rick Aguilera, Kevin Appier, Kevin Brown, David Cone, Chuck Finley, John Franco, Dwight Gooden, Pat Hentgen, Jimmy Key, Mark Langston, Al Leiter, Dennis Martinez, Randy Myers, Brad Radke, José Rijo, Bret Saberhagen, Dave Stieb, Fernando Valenzuela, David Wells, John Wetteland, Darren Daulton, Javy Lopez, Cecil Fielder, Andrés Galarraga, Mark Grace, Fred McGriff, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Mo Vaughn, Chuck Knoblauch, Tony Phillips, Edgardo Alfonzo, Robin Ventura, Matt Williams, Dante Bichette, Ellis Burks, Brett Butler, Jose Canseco, Juan González, Brian Jordan, Ray Lankford, Kenny Lofton, Willie McGee, Tim Salmon, Devon White & Bernie Williams; Managers: Davey Johnson, Charlie Manuel, Lou Piniella, Felipe Alou, Bruce Bochy, Roger Craig, Art Howe, Jim Leyland, Mike Hargrove, Johnny Oates, Buck Showalter, Bobby Valentine; General Managers: John Hart, Dan O'Dowd; Owners: George Steinbrenner, George W. Bush; Other Executives: Bill White ;
Umpires: Joe Brinkman, Derryl Cousins, Jerry Crawford, Bob Davidson, Tim McClelland, Ed Montague, Rich Garcia, Mike Reilly, & Tim Welke
Players Moises Alou, Luis Gonzalez, Carlos Delgado, Troy Percival, Jim Edmonds, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Kendall, Jorge Posada, Magglio Ordóñez, Édgar Rentería, Johan Santana, Johnny Damon, Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, Michael Young, Roy Oswalt, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Cliff Lee, Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano & Eric Chavez are ineligible for the 2022 Today's Game ballot as they have not been retired for 15 years. Manager Mike Scioscia is ineligible until after the 2022 Today's Game ballot, as he will not have been retired for 5 years nor turned 65 until after that election. Executives Dave Dombrowski and Stan Kasten are ineligible until after the 2022 Today's Game ballot, as they will not have been retired for 5 years nor turned 70 until after that election.

Modern Baseball (1970–1987)

Players: Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dave Parker, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Thurman Munson, Dwight Evans, Lou Whitaker, Luis Tiant, Jim Kaat, Dave Concepcion, Dan Quisenberry, Vida Blue, Ron Guidry, Al Oliver, Rusty Staub, Mickey Lolich, Sparky Lyle, Bobby Bonds, John Hiller, Ken Holtzman, Burt Hooton, Jerry Koosman, Mike Marshall, Tug McGraw, Andy Messersmith, Jeff Reardon, Rick Reuschel, Steve Rogers, Paul Splittorff, Dave Stewart, Frank Tanana, Mike Torrez, Frank Viola, Wilbur Wood, Bob Boone, Lance Parrish, Jim Sundberg, Gene Tenace, Cecil Cooper, Keith Hernandez, Lee May, George Scott, Bobby Grich, Mark Belanger, Larry Bowa, Bert Campaneris, Bucky Dent, Don Kessinger, Rico Petrocelli, Willie Randolph, Sal Bando, Buddy Bell, Ron Cey, Darrell Evans, Toby Harrah, Richie Hebner, Graig Nettles, Jeff Burroughs, César Cedeño, Jack Clark, José Cruz, Brian Downing, George Foster, Oscar Gamble, Kirk Gibson, Willie Horton, Chet Lemon, Greg Luzinski, Fred Lynn, Rick Monday, Bobby Murcer, Amos Otis, Lou Piniella, Mickey Rivers, Ken Singleton, Reggie Smith, Bob Watson, & Frank White; Managers: Billy Martin, Gene Mauch, Tom Kelly, Jim Fregosi, Ralph Houk, Dick Howser, Jack McKeon, John McNamara, Chuck Tanner, Don Zimmer; General Managers: Bob Howsam, Harry Dalton, Frank Cashen, Al Campanis, Paul Owens, Cedric Tallis;
Owners: Charlie O. Finley, Gene Autry Ewing Kauffman, John Fetzer, Charles Bronfman, Peter O'Malley; Umpires: Larry Barnett, Jim Evans, Bruce Froemming, Larry McCoy, John McSherry, Steve Palermo, Dave Phillips, Harry Wendelstedt, Lee Weyer

Golden Days (1950–1969)

Players: Dick Allen, Tony Oliva, Maury Wills, Minnie Miñoso, Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Billy Pierce, Vada Pinson, Don Newcombe, Roger Maris, Curt Flood, Mickey Vernon, Rocky Colavito, Steve Barber, Lew Burdette, Mike Cuellar, Murry Dickson, Carl Erskine, Roy Face, Mike Garcia, Ned Garver, Larry Jackson, Vern Law, Eddie Lopat, Sal Maglie, Jim Maloney, Lindy McDaniel, Sam McDowell, Denny McLain, Dave McNally, Stu Miller, Claude Osteen, Milt Pappas, Ron Perranoski, Camilo Pascual, Jim Perry, Johnny Podres, Vic Raschi, Curt Simmons, Mel Stottlemyre, Del Crandall, Bill Freehan, Elston Howard, Sherm Lollar, Tim McCarver, Joe Adcock, Norm Cash, Boog Powell, Ted Kluszewski, Gil McDougald, Roy Sievers, Alvin Dark, Jim Fregosi, Jim Gilliam, Dick Groat, Harvey Kuenn, Roy McMillan, Al Rosen, Felipe Alou, Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, Del Ennis, Carl Furillo, Frank Howard, Jackie Jensen, Andy Pafko, Bobby Thomson, & Jimmy Wynn;
Managers: Danny Murtaugh, Paul Richards, Fred Hutchinson, Bill Rigney, Birdie Tebbetts; General Managers: Buzzie Bavasi, John McHale, Gabe Paul, Bing Devine, Frank Lane; Owners: August Busch, Jr., Phil Wrigley, Calvin Griffith

Early Baseball (1871–1949)

Players: Bill Dahlen, Wes Ferrell, Marty Marion, Bucky Walters, Harry Stovey, Frank McCormick, Tony Mullane, Allie Reynolds, Mickey Vernon, Sherry Magee, Carl Mays, Vern Stephens, Lefty O'Doul, Cecil Travis, Newt Allen, John Beckwith, William Bell, Chet Brewer, Bill Byrd, Rap Dixon, John Donaldson, Sammy T. Hughes, Fats Jenkins, Dick Lundy, Oliver Marcell, Dobie Moore, Alejandro Oms, Buck O'Neil, Red Parnell, George Scales, Candy Jim Taylor, C.I. Taylor, Home Run Johnson, Spot Poles, Dick Redding, Babe Adams, Tommy Bond, Harry Brecheen, Ted Breitenstein, Tommy Bridges, Charlie Buffinton, Bob Caruthers, Spud Chandler, Jack Coombs, Mort Cooper, Wilbur Cooper, Paul Derringer, Bill Donovan, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Mel Harder, Silver King, Ray Kremer, Sam Leever, Dutch Leonard, Dolph Luque, Firpo Marberry, Bobby Mathews, Jim McCormick, Johnny Murphy, Art Nehf, Bobo Newsom, Al Orth, Deacon Phillippe, Jack Powell, Jack Quinn, Ed Reulbach, Eddie Rommel, Charlie Root, Schoolboy Rowe, Nap Rucker, Johnny Sain, Slim Sallee, Bob Shawkey, Urban Shocker, Jesse Tannehill, Dizzy Trout, Virgil Trucks, George Uhle, Johnny Vander Meer, Hippo Vaughn, Lon Warneke, Will White, Jim Whitney, Charlie Bennett, Walker Cooper, Johnny Kling, Deacon McGuire, Wally Schang, George H. Burns, Dolph Camilli, Phil Cavarretta, Jake Daubert, Joe Judge, Stuffy McInnis, Cal McVey, Joe Start, Fred Tenney, Hal Trosky, Rudy York, Ross Barnes, Cupid Childs, Larry Doyle, Bobby Lowe, Fred Pfeffer, Hardy Richardson, Dick Bartell, Art Fletcher, Jack Glasscock, Lave Cross, Jimmy Dykes, Bob Elliott, Heinie Groh, Stan Hack, Ken Keltner, Arlie Latham, Pepper Martin, Buddy Myer, Johnny Pesky, Ezra Sutton, Ginger Beaumont, Wally Berger, Pete Browning, George J. Burns, George Case, Ben Chapman, Doc Cramer, Gavvy Cravath, Dom DiMaggio, Patsy Donovan, George Gore, Jeff Heath, Tommy Henrich, Babe Herman, Paul Hines, Dummy Hoy, Sam Jethroe, Bob Johnson, Charley Jones, Charlie Keller, Bob Meusel, Irish Meusel, Clyde Milan, Bing Miller, Terry Moore, Jimmy Ryan, Rip Sewell, Jimmy Sheckard, Riggs Stephenson, Mike Tiernan, George Van Haltren, Bobby Veach, Dixie Walker, Cy Williams, Ken Williams, & Smoky Joe Wood; Managers: Charlie Grimm, Steve O'Neill, Chuck Dressen, Jimmy Dykes; Executives: Sam Breadon, August Herrmann, Chris von der Ahe, Al Reach ; Chub Feeney, John Heydler, Bob Quinn, Ben Shibe, Charles Somers; Umpires: Cy Rigler, Bill Dinneen, Bob Emslie, Babe Pinelli, Beans Reardon, Bill Summers; Pioneers: Doc Adams

Committee members

1953–2001

The following is a list of members of the Veterans Committee from its establishment in 1953 to its radical reformation in 2001, along with the dates of their membership.
As of December 2008, for 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, members of the Veterans Committee were:
;Pre-1943 Veterans Committee members
;Hall of Famers
;Historians
;Post-1942 Veterans Committee members
As of November 2010, for 2011 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, the only committee members announced were those voting for the post-1972 Expansion Era candidates:
;Hall of Famers
;Executives
;Media

2011

As of November 2011, for 2012 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, the 16-member Golden Era Committee was announced:
;Hall of Famers
;Executives
;Media

2012

As of November 2012, for 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, the 16-member Pre-Integration Era Committee was announced: