On
Jan. 29, 1936, the first-ever induction class for the National Baseball Hall of
Fame was announced.
Five
players became the first members of the hallowed halls located in Cooperstown,
N.Y.
Ty
Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner were the
inaugural class of baseball's hall of fame.
The
idea of a hall of fame for baseball was recognized in 1935 as the sport became
America's pastime.
Since the inception of the Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown, New York their have been 306 members elected.
Included
are 208 former major league players, 28 executives, 35 Negro leaguers, 19
managers and 10 umpires.
The
Baseball Writers’ Association of America has elected 112 candidates to the Hall
while the Committees on managers, umpires, executives and long-retired
players (in all of its forms) has chosen 162 deserving candidates (96
major leaguers, 28 executives, 19 managers, nine Negro Leaguers and 10 umpires).
The defunct “Committee on Negro Baseball Leagues” selected nine men between
1971-77 and the Special Committee on Negro Leagues in 2006, elected 17 Negro
Leaguers.
There are currently 68 living members.
By
position, there are: 74 pitchers, 17 catchers, 22 first basemen, 20 second
basemen, 15 third basemen, 24 shortstops, 21 left fielders, 23 center fielders,
24 right fielders, 23 managers, 10 umpires and 33 executives.
This year three players, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Frank Thomas were inducted into Cooperstown, all as first ballot Hall of Famers.
While Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre were inducted as managers.
