Rules for Election to the Hall of Fame (Baseball)

[zev_steinhardt]

I was reading this story about Rickey Henderson returning to play independent ball this year again.

In the story, the following line appeared:

The outspoken outfielder is delaying his induction to the Hall of Fame by continuing to play professionally.

It had always been my understanding that a player must be retired five years in order to be eligible for election. That includes play in the minor leagues. Warren Sphan was held back from the Hall for a few years because he continued to play in the minors for a few years after his major league career was over.

However, I had also understood "playing in the minors" to mean playing in Organized Baseball, which is not covered under the independent leagues. That being the case, I didn't think Henderson was delaying his certain-election to the Hall by continuing to play.

I looked at the rules for election at the Hall's website. Sadly, after looking there, I am even more confused.

The rules state:

3. Eligible Candidates — Candidates to be eligible must meet the following requirements:

A. A baseball player must have been active as a player in the Major Leagues at some time during a period beginning twenty (20) years before and ending five (5) years prior to election.
B. Player must have played in each of ten (10) Major League championship seasons, some part of which must have been within the period described in 3 (A).
C. Player shall have ceased to be an active player in the Major Leagues at least five (5) calendar years preceding the election but may be otherwise connected with baseball.
D. In case of the death of an active player or a player who has been retired for less than five (5) full years, a candidate who is otherwise eligible shall be eligible in the next regular election held at least six (6) months after the date of death or after the end of the five (5) year period, whichever occurs first.
E. Any player on Baseball's ineligible list shall not be an eligible candidate.

Provisions D and E don't apply to Henderson.

A simple reading of the rules, however, tells me that even play in Organized Baseball, as long as not in the majors, doesn't hold a player back from consideration. It sounds to me like Rickey could join a AAA team, play for the next 20 years and still be eligible for consideration in 2008, since he would meet requirements and C, as long as he doesn't play in the majors.

Now, I know that that is wrong. I know that play in the minors (in Organized Baseball) will delay a player's eligibility - even though a simple reading of the rules doesn't support that. That being said, what is the status of Henderson's playing independent ball?

Zev Steinhardt

[BobT]

I think the only relevant precedent here would be that of Warren Spahn.

His last year in the major leagues was 1965. But he pitched two more seasons in the minor, including one in Mexico and retired permanently in 1967. I don't think the Mexican League was part of the National Association (as it is now).

Spahn made it to the Hall of Fame in 1973. That was the first year he was on the ballot. So I assume Spahn must have had some position in baseball in 1968. He was the only player elected by the BBWAA in 1973

[RM Mentock]

The rules have changed, over the years (link), although I can't remember the specifics.

[JerH]

I consider it highly likely that the article's writer didn't really know the Hall's rules. The Hall's web site lists Rickey as a potential 2009 inductee, which would correspond to having last been a big leaguer in '03. If they counted his playing for Newark in '04, it would list him as a '10 inductee.