MLB Hall of Fame History

Baseball is one of the oldest American sports we all know and cherish and has its extensive MLB Hall of Fame history to go along with it. It’s always been a baseball lover’s dream to play in the MLB, never mind make it into the Hall of Fame with the best players, coaches, referees and staff you’ll ever see.

Induction into the MLB Hall of Fame solidifies the person’s involvement with Major League Baseball as one of the most important players, coaches, etc. to ever grace the sport. Throughout this article, we’ll highlight the history of the MLB Hall of Fame, who the first inductees were and how they currently conduct the voting process.

Origins of the MLB Hall of Fame

With the first baseball game occurring as far back as 1839, the sport has its roots deeply ingrained in American culture. The Hall of Fame, recognizing the best players in all of pro baseball, didn’t materialize until 1936. Only five talented players would make the first round of inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which opened its museum in 1939 in Cooperstown, New York.

Originally remembered as the legendary spot for the 1839 Doubleday Baseball Game at Full-Fledged Park, this would become the home spot for the annual Hall of Fame Game, which is still used to this day! By 1940, the MLB Hall of Fame had 25 inducted players, so the museum needed to undergo extensive construction to add new wings for galleries and more inductees from 1950-1958. 

In the modern day, the MLB Hall of Fame history has a lasting impact on future athletes, and the Cooperstown site continues to be a monument hub celebrating the accomplishments of the top players and many others involved in the success of the MLB.

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First MLB Hall of Fame Inductions

In the year 1936, the first five Hall of Famers were announced:

• Ty Cobb – 22 MLB seasons as center-fielder for the Detroit Tigers (1950-1926)
• Walter Johnson – 21 MLB seasons as a pitcher for the Washington Senators (1907-1927)
• Christy Mathewson – 17 MLB seasons as a pitcher for the New York Giants (1900-1916)
• Babe Ruth – 6 MLB seasons as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (194-1919), 15 MLB seasons as an outfielder for the New York Yankees (1920-1934)
• Honus Wagner – 3 MLB seasons as a shortstop for the Louisville Colonels (1897-1899), 18 MLB seasons as a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1900-1917)

Voting for the MLB Hall of Famers

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has a strict set of rules specifying the criteria for inducting a candidate and is overseen by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America board. Members of the BBWAA earn an essential vote from an independent organization after signing an explicit code of conduct form to register as a valid voter. An election is held annually where active, knowledgeable baseball writers with at least 10+ years of experience in the MLB industry can vote if they’ve gained eligibility. 

To elect a candidate, the player in question must be active in the MLB for at least 15 years, at least five years before the election. The player must have played in 10 Major League Championship seasons and be a retired veteran of the sport for at least five years while still being involved with baseball. As a result of this process, any candidate who receives at least 75% of the votes from the BWAA Screening Committee will be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame!