First HoF Class Question
 

This is a random question with very little (zero) research done regarding the answer.

Why wasn't Cy Young inducted with the original 5 in the first Hall of Fame class?

Might be more of a debate than an actual answer, but I'm curious.

I believe Cy's votes were split between the pre and post 1900 committees and he didn't get enough from either.

On a side note, you know what's funny about that? The first vote took place in 1936, I believe, right? If we subtracted 36 years (actually 37, to be fair) from today, that would only be 1981. Thirty seven years used to seem like a helluva long time, but it really isn't. Yowza.

Great question, Kyle. I believe Howard got it right.

I'll add that voting was very, very different back then...for instance, some players, Gehrig and DiMaggio being two, received votes while they were still active players.

While the voting process we experience today is far from perfect, it is much more sophisticated than it was in its infancy...aren't we all?



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Thank you.

Did they miscalculate his number of wins on their abacus or something? I would love to know why people didn't vote for him for that first class.

Probably a bunch of guys he played against with hard feelings.

There was also confusion on the Veteran's vote. Voters were only supposed to vote for 5 players instead of the 10 allowed on the BBWAA ballot. So, the voters who chose 10 had their votes count as only a half vote. It resulted in no one being elected in the Veteran's vote in 1936.

This is it. Voters went sure where his career should land. In pre1900 before the start of the American League and modern baseball as they knew it or after.

As a side question can you name the four players voted into the Hall of Fame before five years after their careers ended? No peeking. Just see if you can guess in your mind without revealing just yet. May or may not be too hard of a question but I’ve always thought it fun.

Drew

Ruth, Gehrig and Clemente are three of them.

You got the first three. My apologies though. I reread my post and realized I made a mistake and there are four members of the Hall of Fame in the “less than five year” category not five.

So anyone know the last one without looking it up?

Drew

/

Teddy Ballgame?

The 5 year rule was made in 1954 so it would have to be someone inducted before that.

Yes and no. Just a hint. Still looking for the last one. If no one guesses I give it tonight.

Drew

Joe DiMaggio?

Yes. The four were Ruth, Gerhig, DiMaggio and Clemente. DiMaggio last played in 1951 and was inducted in 1955.

Gerhig and Clemente were both inducted due to their special circumstances and Ruth was inducted in its inaugural vote long before any precedents were formed making Joe DiMaggio the only HOFer to be voted in before five years without special circumstances (depending how you view Ruth’s).

Drew

I think you were right the 1st time Carl Hubbell last pitched in 1943 and was inducted in 1947, making the total 5.

You are correct. I knew there was a fifth when I wrote it but then second guessed myself and didn’t look it up. Man I’m getting old. Sometimes I can’t even remember what I was about to