P R E S E R V I N G H I S T O R Y . H O N O R I N G E X C E L L E N C E . C O N N E C T I N G G E N E R A T I O N S .

AROUND THE HORN

News & Notes from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Veterans Committee Election Edition

December 1, 2007 volume 14, issue 11

V E T E R AN L E AD E R S H I P

VETERANS VOTE: Two voting committees will consider ballots of 10 managers/umpires and 10 executives/pioneers for the

National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2008 Veterans Committee election, with results to be announced Monday, December 3 at Baseball’s

Winter Meetings in Nashville at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT and will be carried live at baseballhall.org…Seven managers and three

umpires comprise the managers/umpires ballot and will be considered by a 16-member electorate of Hall of Fame members, current

and former executives and veteran media members…

Ten executives and pioneers comprise a second ballot to be considered by a 12-

member panel of Hall of Famers, current and former executives and veteran media members…Any candidate receiving 75% of the

vote on either ballot will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of the 2008 Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony, to be held July 27, 2008…Electors will be asked to vote for zero to four candidates on each ballot...Candidate

vote totals will be released…Individual Committee member vote selections will not be released.

ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS: Hall of Fame officials and selected members of both voting committees will announce the

election results on Monday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT in a press conference in Delta Ballroom C/D at the Opryland Hotel in

Nashville…

If any living candidates are elected, a press

conference would be held Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 12 noon ET/11 a.m. CT to introduce the newest Hall of Fame member(s) in Delta

Ballroom C/D at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville…In the event a living candidate is elected, every attempt will be made to arrange a conference call with

any electee(s) at 12 noon ET/11 a.m. CT on Monday, Dec. 3. In the event a deceased candidate is elected, every attempt will be made to arrange a conference call with any electee(s) family

representatives at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on Monday, Dec. 3.

MANAGER/UMPIRE CANDIDATES: The 10 managers and umpires eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008:

managers Whitey Herzog, Davey Johnson, Billy Martin, Gene Mauch, Danny Murtaugh, Billy Southworth and Dick Williams;

umpires Doug Harvey, Hank O’Day and Cy Rigler…Herzog, Johnson, Williams and Harvey are living candidates.

EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES: The 10 executives/pioneers eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008: Buzzie

Bavasi, Barney Dreyfuss, John Fetzer, Bob Howsam, Ewing Kauffman, Bowie Kuhn, John McHale, Marvin Miller, Walter

O’Malley and Gabe Paul…Bavasi, Howsam, McHale and Miller are living candidates.

 VOTERS, PART I: The 16-member electorate charged with reviewing the Managers/Umpires ballot features Hall of Famers

Hank Aaron, Jim Bunning, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Al Kaline, Tom Lasorda, Phil Niekro, Tony Perez, Earl Weaver and

Billy Williams; former executive Jim Frey; current executives Roland Hemond (Diamondbacks) and Bob Watson (Major League

Baseball); and veteran media members Jack O’Connell (MLB.com), Tim Kurkjian (ESPN) and Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated).

THE VOTERS, PART II: The 12-member electorate that with review the Executives/Pioneers ballot includes Hall of Famers Monte

Irvin and Harmon Killebrew; former executives Bobby Brown (American League) and John Harrington (Red Sox); current

executives Jerry Bell (Twins), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals) and Andy MacPhail (Orioles);

and veteran media members Paul Hagen (Philadelphia Daily News), Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) and Hal McCoy

(Dayton Daily News).

B A S E B A L L H A L L . O R G A R O U N D T H E H O R N , P A G E 2

BALLOT COMPOSITION: The final Managers/Umpires ballot was developed by a Baseball Writers’ Association of America

(BBWAA) appointed Historical Overview Committee, comprised of 11 veteran members, which considered umpires and managers

with careers spanning 10 or more major league seasons: Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune); Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun); Rick

Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch); Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau); Moss Klein (Newark Star-Ledger); Bill Madden (New York

Daily News); Ken Nigro, (formerly Baltimore Sun); Jack O’Connell (MLB.com); Nick Peters (Sacramento Bee); Tracy Ringolsby

(Rocky Mountain News); and Mark Whicker (Orange County Register)…The final Executives/Pioneers ballot was developed by the

Executives/Pioneers voting committee, which considered both retired executives and active executives age 65 or older.

FOUR BALLOTS: The Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans now has four ballots…The Managers/Umpires ballot

and the Executives/Pioneers ballot are considered every other year starting with the 2008 Induction year…Players whose careers

spanned a period beginning in 1943 will be considered every other year, starting with the 2009 Induction year…Players whose careers

began before 1943 will be considered every five years, beginning with the 2009 Induction year.

PLAYERS COME NEXT YEAR: All Hall of Fame members will vote on 1943-and-beyond players by mail in late 2008, with

results to be announced at the 2008 Winter Meetings for the 2009 Induction year…A special 12-member committee, yet to be

appointed, will vote on players whose careers began to prior to 1943 at the 2008 Winter Meetings for the 2009 Induction

year…Ballots for both the pre-1943 and 1943-and-beyond elections will be crafted and released in Fall 2008.

REVAMPING THE PROCESS: The Hall of Fame Board of Directors voted to restructure the Committee on Baseball Veterans and

the procedures for electing long-retired players, managers, umpires and executives/pioneers at its July 2007 meeting…The changes

maintain the high standards for earning election to the Hall of Fame, while the voting process has changed, becoming three separate

ballots – players, managers/umpires, and executives/pioneers – reviewed by three separate electorates…In addition, a special

committee will review the candidacies of players whose careers began prior to 1943…"Historically, the Veterans Committee has

continually evolved since its inception in 1936,” said Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame

and Museum. “These newest changes uphold our belief that players should have a Veterans Committee review, while also recognizing

the unique analysis needed for managers, executives and umpires. We believe that these new procedures and restructured committees

will allow for more open dialogue among those who vote, promoting a more intensive study of player candidacies. The Board has

always maintained that the standards for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame must remain very high."

H I S TO R Y O F T H E V E T E R A N S C OM M I T T E E

A BRIEF OVERVIEW: The Veterans Committee has been a part of the Hall of Fame voting process since the first class of electees

in 1936, with the first Veterans Committee electees coming in 1937: Morgan Bulkeley, Byron “Ban” Johnson, John McGraw, Connie

Mack and George Wright, all either managers or executives/pioneers…In all its forms, the Veterans Committee has elected 149

individuals (93 major leaguers, 23 executives, 16 managers, nine Negro Leaguers and eight umpires) to the Hall of Fame, the most

recent coming in 2001 with the election of Bill Mazeroski and Hilton Smith (Negro Leagues)…The Veterans Committee has reviewed

candidates from 1936-1939, 1944-1946, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961-2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007, in various forms.

THE COMMITTEE ON BASEBALL VETERANS: In 1953, the Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans was

formed, outlining parameters that were similar through 2001, though with some variance throughout its time…Voting was conducted

every other year from 1953-1959, with annual votes from 1961 until 2001…From 1961 through 2001, the Committee elected 101

members in 41 meetings, electing a candidate on all but three occasions: 1988, 1990 and 1993.

THE LAST VETERANS COMMITTEE: Prior to this incarnation, the Veterans Committee last voted in February 2007,

considering two ballots – one comprised of players and the other of managers/umpires/executives…It marked the third time for the

Committee to consider players, also in 2003 and 2005, and the second time to consider managers/umpires/executives…From 2003 to

2007, the Veterans Committee was comprised of all living Hall of Fame members, all Ford C. Frick Award winners and all J.G.

Taylor Spink Award winners…In each election, no candidate on either ballot was elected…Voting totals from each of the elections in

2003, 2005 and 2007 are listed below.

2007 PLAYERS BALLOT VOTING RECAP (62 needed for election): Ron Santo (57 votes, 69.5%), Jim Kaat (52, 63.4%), Gil

Hodges (50, 61%), Tony Oliva (47, 57.3%), Maury Wills (33, 40.2%), Joe Torre (26, 31.7%), Don Newcombe (17, 20.7%), Vada

Pinson (16, 19.5%), Roger Maris (15, 18.3%), Lefty O’Doul (15, 18.3%), Luis Tiant (15, 18.3%), Curt Flood (14, 17.1%), Al Oliver

(14, 17.1%), Mickey Vernon (14, 17.1%), Minnie Minoso (12, 14.6%), Cecil Travis (12, 14.6%), Dick Allen (11, 13.4%), Marty

Marion (11, 13.4%), Joe Gordon (10, 12.2%), Ken Boyer (9, 11%), Mickey Lolich (8, 9.8%), Wes Ferrell (7, 8.5%), Sparky Lyle (6,

7.3%), Carl Mays (6, 7.3%), Thurman Munson (6, 7.3%), Rocky Colavito (5, 6.1%) and Bobby Bonds (1, 1.2%).

2007 COMPOSITE BALLOT VOTING RECAP (61 needed for election): Doug Harvey (52 votes, 64.2%), Marvin Miller (51,

63%), Walter O’Malley (36, 44.4%), Buzzie Bavasi (30, 37%), Dick Williams (30, 37%), Whitey Herzog (29, 35.8%), Bill White (24,

29.6%), Bowie Kuhn (14, 17.3%), August Busch Jr. (13, 16%), Billy Martin (12, 14.8%), Charley O. Finley (10, 12.3%), Gabe Paul

(10, 12.3%), Paul Richards (10, 12.3%), Phil Wrigley (9, 11.1%) and Harry Dalton (8, 9.9%).

B A S E B A L L H A L L . O R G A R O U N D T H E H O R N , P A G E 3

2005 VOTING RECAP, PLAYERS BALLOT (60 needed for election): Gil Hodges (52 votes, 65.0%); Ron Santo (52, 65.0%);

Tony Oliva (45, 56.3%); Jim Kaat (43, 53.8%); Joe Torre (36, 45.0%); Maury Wills (26, 32.5%); Vada Pinson (23, 28.8%); Luis Tiant

(20, 25%); Roger Maris (19, 23.8%); Marty Marion (16, 20.0%); Ken Boyer (15, 18.8%); Joe Gordon (14, 17.5%); Carl Mays (12,

15.0%); Minnie Minoso (12, 15.0%); Dick Allen (12, 15.0%); Curt Flood (10, 12.5%); Wes Ferrell (9, 11.3%); Mickey Lolich (9,

11.3%); Don Newcombe (8, 10.0%); Sparky Lyle (7, 8.8%); Elston Howard (6, 7.5%); Bobby Bonds (4, 5.0%); Rocky Colavito (4,

5.0%); Thurman Munson (2, 2.5%); Smoky Joe Wood (2, 2.5%).

2003 VOTING RECAP, PLAYERS BALLOT (61 votes needed for election): Gil Hodges (50 votes, 61.7%); Tony Oliva (48,

59.3%); Ron Santo (46, 56.8%); Joe Torre (29, 35.8%); Maury Wills (24, 29.6%); Vada Pinson (21, 25.9%); Joe Gordon (19, 23.5%);

Roger Maris (18, 22.2%); Marty Marion (17, 21.0%); Carl Mays (16, 19.8%); Minnie Minoso (16, 19.8%); Allie Reynolds (16,

19.8%); Dick Allen (13, 16.0%); Mickey Lolich (13, 16.0%); Wes Ferrell (12, 14.8%); Ken Boyer (11, 13.6%); Don Newcombe (11,

13.6%); Curt Flood (10, 12.3%); Ken R. Williams (8, 9.9%); Rocky Colavito (7, 8.6%); Elston Howard (6, 7.4%); Bob Meusel (6,

7.4%); Bobby Bonds (5, 6.2%); Ted Kluszewski (4, 4.9%); Thurman Munson (4, 4.9%); Mike G. Marshall (3, 3.7%).

2003 VOTING RECAP, COMPOSITE BALLOT (60 votes needed for election): Doug Harvey (48, 60.8%); Walter O’Malley (38,

48.1%); Marvin Miller (35, 44.3%); Buzzie Bavasi (34, 43.0%), Dick Williams (33, 41.8%), Whitey Herzog (25, 31.6%); Billy Martin

(22, 27.8%); Bill White (22, 27.8%); Bowie Kuhn (20, 25.3%); Gabe Paul (13, 16.5%); August Busch (11, 13.9%); Paul Richards (10,

12.7%); Charley Finley (9. 11.4%); Phil Wrigley (9, 11.4%); Harry Dalton (6, 7.6%).

THE GAME’S ELITE: The Hall of Fame is comprised of 280 elected members…Included are 198 former major league players, 23

executives, 35 Negro leaguers, 16 managers and eight umpires…The BBWAA has elected 105 candidates to the Hall while the

Veterans Committee (in all of its forms) has chosen 149 deserving candidates…The defunct “Committee on Negro Baseball Leagues”

selected nine men between 1971-77 and the Special Committee on Negro Leagues in 2006, elected 17 Negro leaguers…There are

currently 62 living members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

BETWEEN THE LINES: Including Negro leagues players, the following is a breakdown by position of the 227 Hall of Famers who

earned their election on the playing field…Also included is the last major leaguer to be elected at each position.

Pitchers ........................70 Second Baseman......... 18 Left Fielders ................ 19

Catchers.......................16 Third Baseman ........... 13 Center Fielders ........... 23

First Baseman .............21 Shortstops ................... 23 Right Fielders.............. 23

Designated Hitter..........1 DH: Molitor (2004)

PITCHER: Sutter (2006) SECOND BASE: Sandberg (2005) LEFT FIELD: Yastrzemski (1989)

CATCHER: Carter (2003) THIRD BASE: Boggs (2005) CENTER FIELD: Puckett (2001)

FIRST BASE: Murray (2003) SHORTSTOP: Ripken Jr. (2007) RIGHT FIELD: Gwynn (2007)

T H E AWA R D S E AS O N

2008 SPINK AWARD WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY: The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will

announce the winner of the 2008 J.G. Taylor Spink Award, given annually to a sportswriter for “meritorious contributions to baseball

writing,” at baseball’s winter meetings on Wednesday, Dec. 5…The award will be presented during Hall of Fame Induction

Ceremonies on July 27 and has been voted upon annually since 1962…Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch received the

award during Hall of Fame Weekend 2007…The three finalists, as chosen by the BBWAA, for the 2008 award: Dave Van Dyck

(Chicago Tribune), Nick Peters (Sacramento Bee), and Larry Whiteside (Boston Globe).

2008 FORD C. FRICK AWARD BALLOT COMES TUESDAY: The Hall of Fame will announce the 10-name ballot for the 2008

Ford C. Frick Award on Tuesday, Dec. 4…The ballot will feature the three fan choices as determined by an Internet vote throughout

November at baseballhall.org...The other seven names will be selected by a Hall of Fame staff research committee…The ballot will be

voted on by the 20-member Frick electorate, with the winner to be announced on Feb. 19, 2008…The Frick Award is presented

annually to a broadcaster for “major contributions to the game of baseball” and will be presented during Hall of Fame Weekend 2008,

July 27…This marks the fifth year in which fans have participated in determining a Frick Award winner…The 2007 Frick Award

winner was Denny Matthews, with Bill King, Joe Nuxhall and Ken Harrelson chosen as fan selections.

O’NEIL AWARD ESTABLISHED: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced plans prior to Game One of the

2007 World Series to honor the legacy of the late John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil, the Negro leagues legend whose baseball contributions

spanned eight decades before his death at age 94 one year ago, with the creation of the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, to

be first presented during Hall of Fame Weekend 2008, with O’Neil the Award’s first recipient…A permanent, life-size bronze statue

of O’Neil will be dedicated in the Museum and will serve as the Award, accompanied by two plaques with the statue: One to educate

Museum visitors about O’Neil’s contributions to the game, and the other to list the recipients of the Award…The Award honors an

individual whose extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball's positive impact on society, has broadened the game's appeal, and whose

character, integrity and dignity are comparable to Buck O'Neil’s…It will be bestowed by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors at its

discretion, though not more frequently than once every three years…For more information, please visit baseballhall.org.

B A S E B A L L H A L L . O R G A R O U N D T H E H O R N , P A G E 4

T H E B BWA A E L E C T I O N : J AN U AR Y N E AR S

SAVE THE DATE: The BBWAA and the Hall of Fame will announce the results of the 2008 BBWAA election on Tuesday, January

8 at 2 p.m. ET, with results at baseballhall.org and baseballwriters.org...In the event of living electees, a press conference will be held

at 12 noon on Wednesday, Jan. 9, in New York City…CREDENTIALS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT…Requests must

be submitted no later than Jan. 3 via fax (607-547-2044) or email (info@baseballhalloffame.org)…For more information, please call

the Museum’s communications department at 607-547-0215.

THE 2008 BALLOT: The BBWAA ballot features 25 players, including 14 new candidates (in bold face), including Jose Rijo, who

previously appeared on the 2001 ballot, but came out of retirement to pitch in 2001 and 2002…The ballot contains 11 returnees, with

Dave Concepcion on the ballot for the 15th and final year…Only Harold Baines and Mark McGwire return to the ballot among 2007

first-year eligibles…In 2007, Tony Gwynn (97%) and Cal Ripken Jr. (98%) were elected…Any candidate to receive votes on 75

percent of ballots cast will earn election….The 2008 ballot, the number of years on the ballot, and 2007 vote percentage:

NAME YR 2007 NAME YR 2007 NAME YR 2007

Brady Anderson 1 - Rich Gossage 9 71.2% Dave Parker 12 11.4%

Harold Baines 2 5.3% Tommy John 14 22.9% Tim Raines 1 -

Rod Beck 1 - David Justice 1 - Jim Rice 14 63.5%

Bert Blyleven 10 47.7% Chuck Knoblauch 1 - Jose Rijo 1 -

Dave Concepcion 15 13.6% Don Mattingly 8 9.9% Lee Smith 6 39%

Andre Dawson 7 56.7% Mark McGwire 2 23.5% Todd Stottlemyre 1 -

Shawon Dunston 1 - Jack Morris 9 37.1% Alan Trammell 7 13.4%

Chuck Finley 1 - Dale Murphy 10 9.2%

Travis Fryman 1 - Robb Nen 1 -

THE VOTING ELECTORATE: A record 545 ballots were cast by BBWAA voters in 2007, 25 more than the previous best of 520

in 2006…On five total occasions (also: 515-2001; 506-2004; 516-2005) more than 500 ballots have been cast…At least 400 ballots

have been cast in every election since 1986…Voting privileges are extended to those BBWAA members meeting their organization’s

Hall of Fame voting qualifications and in good standing with the BBWAA…Voters can name from zero to 10 names on their Hall of

Fame ballot…75 percent of all ballots cast are necessary for election.

CREDIT AN ASSIST: Thanks to Elias Sports Bureau for its assistance in verifying the names of the new players eligible for

consideration, and to Ernst and Young for its assistance in verifying the vote, year-in and year-out.

CAREFUL SELECTION: 2007 marked the 64th Hall of Fame election held by the BBWAA…Starting in 1936, the BBWAA has

elected someone 56 times and on seven occasions it did not elect anyone (1945, 1946, 1950, 1958, 1960, 1971, 1996)…On nine

occasions, no election were held (1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965)….The BBWAA membership has elected

from zero to five candidates in each of its 64 elections…As qualified in the chart below, it has voted in two players and one player

more than any other quantity (23 times).

ELECTED TIMES LAST CLASS

5 1 1936 Cobb, Johnson, Mathewson, Ruth, Wagner

4 2 1955 DiMaggio, Hartnett, Lyons, Vance

3 8 1999 Brett, Ryan, Yount

2 23 2007 Gwynn, Ripken

1 23 2006 Sutter

0 7 1996 -----

NEAR PERFECTION: With Cal Ripken Jr. earning the most votes in BBWAA history in 2007 – and Tony Gwynn the second most

ever – here’s a look at the top 10 highest percentages of ballots cast in BBWAA voting history:

YEAR PLAYER BALLOTS CAST VOTES RECEIVED % RECEIVED OMITTED BALLOTS

1992 ................... Tom Seaver ...................... 430.................................... 425.............................. 98.84%..................................5

1999 ................... Nolan Ryan....................... 497.................................... 491.............................. 98.79%..................................6

2007 ................... Cal Ripken Jr.................. 545.................................... 537.............................. 98.53%.................................8

1936 ................... Ty Cobb............................ 226.................................... 222.............................. 98.23%..................................4

1999 ................... George Brett ..................... 497.................................... 488.............................. 98.19%..................................9

1982 ................... Hank Aaron ...................... 415.................................... 406.............................. 97.83%..................................9

2007 ................... Tony Gwynn.................... 545.................................... 532.............................. 97.60%...............................13

1995 ...................Mike Schmidt ................... 460.................................... 444.............................. 96.52%................................16

1989 ................... Johnny Bench ................... 447.................................... 431.............................. 96.42%................................16

1994 ................... Steve Carlton.................... 455.................................... 436.............................. 95.82%................................19

B A S E B A L L H A L L . O R G A R O U N D T H E H O R N , P A G E 5

FIRST THINGS FIRST: With Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. elected on their first ballot in 2007, 43 players have been elected in

their first year of eligibility (11 pitchers, seven RF, five LF, four CF, five SS, three second basemen, four third basemen, two first

basemen, one designated hitter and one catcher)…In six of the last eight elections, at least one player has been elected in his first year

of eligibility…Other than the inaugural Hall of Fame election, 1999 is the only year where as many as three first-year candidates were

elected at once…NOTE: Lou Gehrig (who received votes in 1936 while active and then elected by acclamation in 1939) and Roberto

Clemente (by special election in 1973) were each elected through a non-traditional process and are not counted in the 43.

YEAR NAME YEAR NAME YEAR NAME YEAR NAME

1936 Ty Cobb 1974 Mickey Mantle 1989 Johnny Bench 1999 Robin Yount

1936 Honus Wagner 1977 Ernie Banks 1989 Carl Yastrzemski 2001 Kirby Puckett

1936 Babe Ruth 1979 Willie Mays 1990 Jim Palmer 2001 Dave Winfield

1936 Christy Mathewson 1980 Al Kaline 1990 Joe Morgan 2002 Ozzie Smith

1936 Walter Johnson 1981 Bob Gibson 1991 Rod Carew 2003 Eddie Murray

1962 Jackie Robinson 1982 Hank Aaron 1992 Tom Seaver 2004 Dennis Eckersley

1962 Bob Feller 1982 Frank Robinson 1993 Reggie Jackson 2004 Paul Molitor

1966 Ted Williams 1983 Brooks Robinson 1994 Steve Carlton 2005 Wade Boggs

1969 Stan Musial 1985 Lou Brock 1995 Mike Schmidt 2007 Tony Gwynn

1972 Sandy Koufax 1986 Willie McCovey 1999 Nolan Ryan 2007 Cal Ripken Jr.

1973 Warren Spahn 1988 Willie Stargell 1999 George Brett

TRY AND TRY AGAIN: The other 60 men elected by the BBWAA were done so on a later ballot, taking from two to 16 years

(Dazzy Vance was elected at a time when he could have stayed on the ballot even longer…From 1946-56, the rule was that a player

must have been active at some point in the 25 years prior to the election (it was increased to 30 years from 1956-62, and has been 20

ever since)…When one walks through the Hall of Fame Gallery, though, the year or method by which players were elected are not

noted…The others: 2nd year (Berra, Fingers, Fisk, Ford, Lajoie, Speaker, Young); 3rd year (Alexander, Hubbell, Hunter, Jenkins,

Marichal, Ott, Perry, Sandberg); 4th year (E.Collins, DiMaggio, Grove, Keeler, Killebrew, Roberts, Sisler, Wynn); 5th year

(Campanella, Hornsby, Mathews, Niekro, Sutton); 6th year (Aparicio, Carter, Cochrane, Frisch, Gehringer, P.Waner, B.Williams);

7th year (Appling, Foxx); 8th year (Pennock, Traynor, Wilhelm); 9th year (Dickey, Greenberg, Medwick, Perez, Simmons); 10th

year (Boudreau, Cronin, Dean, Drysdale, Lyons); 11th year (Snider); 12th year (Hartnett, Heilmann, Lemon); 13th year (Kiner,

Sutter); 14th year (Maranville, Terry); 15th year (Ruffing); 16th year (Vance).

COVERING GROUND: Of those 60 Hall of Famers listed above, earning election required gaining extra votes during their election

year…The Hall of Famer to make up the most ground from the previous year to earn election the next, percentage-wise, was Carl

Hubbell, who gained 61.4 percent (65 votes) in his third year on the ballot, to earn election in 1947…The most votes gained in a year

to earn election was Luke Appling, who received a 141-vote boost in his seventh year to earn election in 1964…Eighteen of 60

multiple-ballot Hall of Famers earned election when more than 400 or more votes were cast, with Luis Aparicio (17.2%, 89 votes)

making up the most ground in a previous year to his election year, in his 6th on the ballot in 1984…Tony Perez (16.4%, 83 votes in

2000), Rollie Fingers (15.5%, 58 votes in 1992), Duke Snider (15.2%, 25 votes in 1980) and Ryne Sandberg (15.1%, 84 votes) were

the only others to gain at least 15 percent in election years with 400 or more voters.

NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE: A partial list of eligible first-time players for upcoming Hall of Fame elections includes: 2009:

David Cone, Mark Grace, Rickey Henderson, Mo Vaughn, Matt Williams. 2010: Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez,

Fred McGriff, Robin Ventura, 2011: Jeff Bagwell, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Hideo Nomo, Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Walker.

CAPPING THE ISSUE: The choice of which team logo appears on a player’s plaque is the Museum's decision…The inductees

wishes are always considered…As a history museum, it's important that the logo be emblematic of the historical accomplishments of a

player's career…A player's election is a career achievement, and as such, every team for whom he played is listed on the plaque; the

logo selection is based on where that player makes his most indelible mark…For example, it would not be appropriate from an

historical standpoint if Babe Ruth's cap had a Red Sox logo, if Ty Cobb's cap had a Philly A's logo, or if Hank Greenberg's a Pirates

logo…However, when instances come up where a player's career achievements were fairly evenly divided, as was the case with both

Dave Winfield and Carlton Fisk, we give the player more ownership in the decision, though the Museum retains the final one.

HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: Comprehensive voting data from every BBWAA election is available exclusively at

baseballhall.org,...Visitors can sort election results by player, year and by votes received…This compilation is the definitive database

of Hall of Fame election data, allowing the user to view year-by-year vote totals for an individual or view cumulative election results

of each year since 1936.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND 2008…AND BEYOND: Future Hall of Fame Weekends will be held over the last Sunday in

July…In 2008, ceremonies will be held on Sunday, July 27, with the weekend running July 25-28…Future dates beyond next year:

2009 – July 24-27; 2010 – July 23-26…A complete Hall of Fame Weekend 2008 schedule will be announced in the spring.

B A S E B A L L H A L L . O R G A R O U N D T H E H O R N , P A G E 6

C O O P E R S T OWN I S H OM E F O R T H E H O L I D AY S

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION SLATED FOR DECEMBER 8: The Museum will celebrate the Holiday season Saturday, Dec. 8,

with activities for visitors of all ages during its Annual Holiday Celebration in Cooperstown, as part of Cooperstown’s Main Street

Christmas Celebration...In lieu of admission for the Holiday Celebration, the Museum will accept at least two non-perishable food

items or a new toy in its original packaging for area charities...Non-perishable food donations will be given to area food banks,

Opportunities for Otsego, Inc., and the Cooperstown Food Bank...Toy donations will be offered to Toys for Tots.

ROBERTS TO SERVE AS MEMBER SPOKESMAN: Hall of Famer Robin Roberts serves as the Museum’s Membership

Spokesman for 2008…Roberts’ likeness appears on all membership materials, including the personalized Membership card available

for all members…An in-depth interview with Roberts will be featured in the 2008 Hall of Fame Yearbook.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE CONTENT NOW ONLINE: Online visitors to baseballhall.org can catch a behind-the-scenes look at the

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Members Only Content Area, with exclusive video, photos and online technology

available only to Museum Members….A regular “Hall of Famer of the Month” segment, features original video with Hall of Fame

members inside the Museum…Throughout November, Mike Schmidt shared tales of his memorable moments and discussed some of

the items from his career on display in Cooperstown…Through December, Nolan Ryan serves as “Hall of Famer of the Month,” with

Robin Roberts on deck for January’s Hall of Famer of the Month…Members in good standing have free access to the content area

and individuals can become members by signing up when they visit baseballhall.org.

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS ON DISPLAY: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pays tribute to the 2007 World

Champion Boston Red Sox with an exhibit in the Autumn Glory exhibit on the Museum’s third floor…Among the items on display

from Boston’s sweep of the Colorado Rockies: the glove worn by Jonathan Papelbon during the Series; warm-up jersey worn by

Terry Francona during Games 3 and 4; bat used by Jacoby Ellsbury in Game 3 to collect four hits, making him just the third rookie

to do so in a World Series game; the spikes worn by Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game Three, when he became the first Japanese-born

pitcher to start and win a World Series game; the cap worn by Jon Lester, Boston’s Game Four starting pitcher; and the bat used by

Dustin Pedroia to hit a lead-off home run in Game One of the series...Also part of the exhibit: the jersey worn by Colorado’s Todd

Helton in Game One and a bat from Matt Holliday used in Games 3 and 4, along with a ball from the humidor in Coors Field and dirt

from the pitching mound as host to the first World Series game played in Colorado…Additionally, the cap worn by Series MVP Mike

Lowell during the series will be added to Baseball As America…The Series exhibit will be on display through the 2008 postseason.

SPEND A SUMMER IN COOPERSTOWN, THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME: Applications are now being accepted

through Jan. 31 for the 2008 class of the Frank & Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development…Beginning its

eighth year, the program hosts 25 college students from across the country, interning at the Museum, and receiving meaningful, handson

training in numerous professional areas, including research, photos, technical services, exhibits, membership, education,

collections, retail and much more…For information, visit baseballhall.org, or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME.

2007 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Among the artifacts in Cooperstown from the 2007 season: Helmets worn by Barry Bonds for

home runs 755 and 756…Two baseballs from Game in which Bonds hit home run 756; one is signed by the Giants’ starting nine and

the manager, the other signed by the Nationals’ starting nine and the manager…Balls and strikes indicator used by home plate umpire

John Hirschbeck and baseball from 756 game signed by all four umpires: Hirschbeck (HP), Wally Bell (1, Laz Diaz (2 and

Bill Welke (3…Second base from PETCO Park in August 4 game in which Barry Bonds his home run No. 755...Cap worn by

Mike Basik when he gave up Bonds’ 756th home run…A jersey worn by Tom Glavine on the night he won his 300th game in

Wrigley Field on Aug. 5; also: a baseball from that game signed by Glavine and his catcher, Paul Lo Duca…Jersey and pants worn

by Sammy Sosa when he hit his 600th career home run…Bat, cap, jersey and batting gloves used by Craig Biggio when he recorded

his 3,000th career hit at Houston’s Minute Maid Park on June 28 against Colorado Rockies…Helmet worn by Alex Rodriguez to hit

his 500th career home run on Aug. 4…Jersey worn by Frank Thomas to hit his 500th career Home Run on June 28 at Minnesota’s

Metrodome…Jersey worn by Omar Vizquel on May 13, when he broke Ozzie Smith’s mark for career double plays turned by a

shortstop…Cap, jersey, spikes, glove and the final out ball from Trevor Hoffman’s 500th career save, on June 6; he became the first

reliever to achieve the milestone…Cap worn by Ichiro Suzuki, MVP of the 2007 All-Star Game; also: the ball he hit for the first

inside-the-park home run in ASG history…Spikes worn by John Smoltz for his 200th win, achieved May 25 against the New York

Mets…Game ball from Detroit Tiger pitcher Justin Verlander’s no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12.

TWIN TOURS THROUGH HISTORY: Baseball As America, the national exhibition tour which examines the relationship

between baseball and American culture, opened its 13th tour stop on September 28 at the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas,

Texas…The exhibit will be in Dallas through January 13…Baseball As America will open in Philadelphia at the National Constitution

Center on February 15 for a three-month run through May 11 before concluding the U.S. Tour in Boston at the Museum of Science in

summer 2008…To date, more than two million people have visited the exhibit over the last five years…By comparison, the Museum

welcomes about two million visitors to Cooperstown every seven years…The exhibit is sponsored nationally by Ernst &

Young…For more information, visit baseballasamerica.org.