Selig’s Hall of Fame vote on Sunday
Former commisioner among 10 on ballot
Bud Selig, who has received more awards and honors than he can count during his long and distinguished career in baseball, will learn Sunday evening if he will join the most elite group of all in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Selig, 82, is one of 10 candidates to be considered for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Era Committee. That 16-member committee meets Sunday morning to vote at baseball’s winter meetings in National Harbor, Md., with any winners to be announced on the MLB Network at 5 p.m.
Though considered a strong candidate for election, Selig did not want to say much about his chances beforehand.
“I think everybody knows what it would mean to me but I’m very nervous and superstitious, so I don’t really want to talk about it,” he said.
The ballot under consideration contains five former players, three executives and two former managers. Selig, currently serving a five-year term as commissioner emeritus for MLB, is joined by longtime team executive John Schuerholz, now vice chairman of the Atlanta Braves, and late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The five former players under consideration are Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Will Clark, Orel Hershiser and Mark McGwire. Davey Johnson and Lou Piniella are the former managers under consideration.
A candidate must receive 75% of the ballots cast for election, or 12 of the 16 committee members. That committee includes supporters of Selig such as club executives Bill DeWitt, David Glass, Andy MacPhail and Paul Beeston; retired executive Pat Gillick; Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox; and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton, who pitched for Selig’s 1982 World Series team in Milwaukee.
Being named MLB’s first commissioner emeritus allowed Selig to be considered for the Hall of Fame earlier than usual. Executives must be retired for at least five years to be nominated unless 70 or older and still active in the game. After Sunday, the Today's Game Era Committee doesn't consider candidates again until two years from now.
Selig had a long career as owner of the Brewers but is being considered primarily for his contributions over 22 years as commissioner. His primary accomplishments included achieving labor peace, revenue sharing, extended playoffs including wildcard berths, drug testing, interleague play, realignment and vast economic growth.
Any candidates elected will be inducted at a ceremony in Cooperstown on July 30, along with any former players selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America.