After an almost 20-year career in MLB and 15 years without being chosen for baseball's Hall of Fame, former Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant has a final chance to finally be elected into the hallowed halls.
The Hall of Fame rules state that players can only be eligible to be voted in for 15 years (starting five years after they have retired). When Tiant wasn't voted in after his 15th opportunity, it seemed his opportunity was forever lost. But yesterday it was announced that Tiant is one of eight former players and two baseball executives on the Golden Era Committee's ballot. According to the Hall of Fame's website:
The 10 Golden Era finalists were selected by the BBWAA-appointed Historical Overview Committee from all eligible candidates among Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players whose most significant career impact was realized during the 1947-72 time period. Eligible candidates include: Players who played in at least 10 major league seasons, who are not on Major League Baseball’s ineligible list, and have been retired for 21 or more seasons; and Managers, Umpires and Executives with 10 or more years in baseball.
Out of the ten men on the ballot, only Tiant, pitcher Jim Kaat, left fielder Minnie Minoso and right fielder Tony Oliva are still alive. The others on the ballot are baseball executive Buzzie Bavasi, Athletics team owner Charlie Finley, third basemen Ron Santo and Ken Boyer, first baseman Gil Hodges and pitcher Allie Reynolds.
Getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame via a Veterans Committee is no easy task. In 2001, a committee elected second baseman Bill Mazeroski for inclusion. Since that time, only second baseman Joe Gordon has gotten in via the Veterans vote and that was in 2009.
The committee will vote on December 4, 2001 and if they choose anyone to be inducted it will be announced on December 5th. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 22, 2012 in Cooperstown, New York.
You can follow Cyn on Twitter @toeingtherubber on Facebook here and subscribe to her article updates here.
Comments