The Baseball Hall of Fame and Musuem
Induction Weekend for the Hall of Fame is coming up at Cooperstown to honor the newest members. Associating the Hall of Fame with Cooperstown comes natural for baseball fans here in the States, but do people in Japan know where the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is in their country? I had the opportunity to visit Cooperstown sometime ago, but never had the chance to visit the Hall in Japan. If some of our readers had the opportunity feel free to chime in.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Musuem exists inside the Tokyo Dome where the Yomiuri Giants play. The Hall of Fame opened in June of 1959 and was moved to the current location inside the Tokyo Dome in 1988. We will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum this season. Within the 50 year history, 168 baseball personnel have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including the four new members elected this year.
The election process to the Baseball Hall of Fame is similar from the one at Cooperstown. I will go into details regarding the election regulation for the players (For others click here).
- Players will be eligible five years after retirement and will be on the ballot for the following 15 years
- About 300 writers with 15 or more years of experience will be eligible to vote
- Players receiving 75 percent or more votes will be inducted into the Hall of Fame
In a recent news, the members of the American Collegiate National Team took their time to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum while participating in the USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series. The award ceremony for the inductees of the 2009 season will take place at Game One of the All-Star Game in Sapporo Dome.
24/07/2009 at 5:50 am Permalink
Hopefully enough have the sense elect Randy Bass, if using your election regulations he should be eligble to be on the ballot. He finished with a .337/.418/.660 line with 202 HR’s and 486 RBI. Ir was one of the dumbest moves in Hanshin history to release Bass because he had to return to the take care of his eldest son. Just imagine what Bass would of did had he not been forced out so quick?
24/07/2009 at 7:59 am Permalink
Um. I was under the impression that one first had to play a minimum of 10 years in Japan to qualify. Even the non-players who were elected had served in some capacity toward Japanese baseball (some at the college level) for decades.
Bass was a great player and has continued to be involved with Japanese baseball well after retirement. But I’m not sure if that’s enough.
24/07/2009 at 8:50 am Permalink
Bass has been on the ballot before: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20040114mk.html
Marty’s article suggests that player eliligibility if from 5 years post-retirement until 15 years post-retirement. The rule from the official HoF site makes it sound like it’s 5 years plus another 15 years:
Pro players who have ceased to be active for at least five (5) years prior to election. Their eligibility shall be valid for further 15 years.
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As for Bass’s candidacy, I think I would vote for him. I value peak performance over longevity.
24/07/2009 at 5:05 pm Permalink
Bass has been on the ballot before:
My mistake then, though based on his peak peformance I agree he should be in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and for what he has continued to do for the game in Japan is even more icing on the cake.
Though my question is Bass still eligble for entry as he I guess he failed to get 75% of the vote? I’m never seen any credible source on the matter.