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[Eli's Gone]

Hall reduces eligibility from 15 years to 10
Among other changes, potential voters must now sign code of conduct

By Paul Casella / MLB.com | 7/26/2014 11:15 A.M. ET


Retired players will now have only 10 years to unlock the doors to Cooperstown under new rules unveiled on Saturday. (AP)

For the first time in more than two decades, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is changing its rules regarding the induction of recently retired players. Under the new system, effective immediately, players will remain on the ballot for a maximum of only 10 years, instead of 15.

Previously, players stayed on the ballot for up to 15 years -- as long as they were listed on at least five percent of the ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in the previous year. Though that percentage remains the same, Hall of Fame candidates will now shift from the BBWAA ballot to the Era Committee system after a decade of eligibility.

"The Board is committed to keeping the policies and voting procedures of the Hall of Fame relevant," said Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. "We believe the BBWAA has done an excellent job of honoring the criteria advanced by the Hall of Fame -- player's record, contributions to the teams on which the player played, character, sportsmanship and integrity -- to determine individuals who belong in the Hall of Fame by the highest threshold, a 75 percent majority. The Board believes these changes are necessary to ensure the integrity of the voting process moving forward."

The changes announced on Saturday -- one day before the induction of former players Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Frank Thomas, as well as former skippers Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre -- are the first changes to the Hall of Fame induction system since 1991.

Along with the change in the voting format, the process for voters will also be slightly altered in 2015. While the requirements for earning a vote remain the same (BBWAA members with at least 10 years on a beat are eligible), potential voters must now fill out a registration form and sign a code of conduct.

The Hall of Fame will then release a list of all the writers who ultimately cast their votes, though their specific ballots will not be made public by the Hall of Fame.

As for the other change, it will not affect the three players currently in years 11-15 on the ballot. Don Mattingly (15th year in 2015), Alan Trammell (14th year in 2015) and Lee Smith (13th year in 2015) will be grandfathered in and remain on the ballot for the full 15 years.

Of the 115 players previously elected into the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA, 102 were voted in within their first 10 years on the ballot, while only 13 needed those extra five years.