, Mariano Rivera, and Lee Smith. Rivera was the first player ever to be elected unanimously.

Selection process

Players are currently inducted into the Hall of Fame through election by either the Baseball Writers' Association of America (or BBWAA), or the Veterans Committee, which now consists of four subcommittees, each of which considers and votes for candidates from a separate era of baseball. Five years after retirement, any player with 10 years of major league experience who passes a screening committee (which removes from consideration players of clearly lesser qualification) is eligible to be elected by BBWAA members with 10 years' membership or more who also have been actively covering MLB at any time in the 10 years preceding the election (the latter requirement was added for the 2016 election). From a final ballot typically including 25–40 candidates, each writer may vote for up to 10 players; until the late 1950s, voters were advised to cast votes for the maximum 10 candidates. Any player named on 75% or more of all ballots cast is elected. A player who is named on fewer than 5% of ballots is dropped from future elections. In some instances, the screening committee had restored their names to later ballots, but in the mid-1990s, dropped players were made permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, even by the Veterans Committee. A 2001 change in the election procedures restored the eligibility of these dropped players; while their names will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, they may be considered by the Veterans Committee. Players receiving 5% or more of the votes but fewer than 75% are reconsidered annually until a maximum of ten years of eligibility (lowered from fifteen years for the 2015 election).

Under special circumstances, certain players may be deemed eligible for induction even though they have not met all requirements. Addie Joss was elected in 1978, despite only playing nine seasons before he died of meningitis. Additionally, if an otherwise eligible player dies before his fifth year of retirement, then that player may be placed on the ballot at the first election at least six months after his death. Roberto Clemente's induction in 1973 set the precedent when the writers chose to put him up for consideration after his death on New Year's Eve, 1972.

The five-year waiting period was established in 1954 after an evolutionary process. In 1936 all players were eligible, including active ones. From the 1937 election until the 1945 election, there was no waiting period, so any retired player was eligible, but writers were discouraged from voting
, Mariano Rivera, and Lee Smith. Rivera was the first player ever to be elected unanimously. 

 survival procedure 

 Players are currently inducted into the Hall of Fame through election by either the Baseball Writers' Association of America (or BBWAA), or the Veterans Committee, which immediately consists of four subcommittees, each of which consider and votes for candidates from a freestanding era of baseball. Five years after retirement, any actor with 10 years of major league experience who passes a cover committee (which removes from consideration players of clearly lesser qualification) is eligible to be elected by BBWAA member with 10 years' membership or more who also have been actively covering MLB at any prison term in the 10 years preceding the election (the latter requirement was added for the 2016 election). From a concluding ballot typically admit 25–40 candidates, each writer may vote for up to 10 players; until the late fifties, voters were advised to cast votes for the maximum 10 candidates. Any musician named on 75% or more of all ballots cast is elected. A player who is named on fewer than 5% of ballots is dropped from future elections. In some case, the screening committee had restored their name to later ballots, but in the mid-1990s, dropped players were cook permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, even by the Veterans Committee. A 2001 change in the election procedures restored the eligibility of these drop players; while their names will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, they may be considered by the Veterans Committee. Players pick up 5% or more of the votes but fewer than 75% are reconsidered annually until a maximum of ten years of eligibility (frown from fifteen years for the 2015 election). 

 Under special circumstances, certain players may be deem eligible for induction even though they have not met all requirements. Addie Joss was elected in 1978, despite only playing nine seasons before he died of meningitis. Additionally, if an otherwise eligible actor dies before his fifth class of retirement, then that player may be placed on the ballot at the first election at least six months after his end. Roberto Clemente's induction in 1973 set the precedent when the writers choose to put him up for consideration after his end on New Year's Eve, 1972. 

 The five - year waiting period was established in 1954 after an evolutionary process. In 1936 all players were eligible, including active ones. From the 1937 election until the 1945 election, there was no waiting period, so any retired player was eligible, but writer were discouraged from voting
, Magiano Rivera, and Lee Smiuh. Rivera was the first 'layer sver to ce elected unanimously.

Selectmon procews

Players are currentlh inductef into tye Hell of Fame thronfh elecbnon bg eitkec the Baseball Eriters' Asvociation of Akefiea (or BBWAA), or the Veterans Committeq, which nlw consists of foug fubckmmittees, each of which considers znd votts for candidates grom a separate era of basfbalp. Five years after retirement, any player with 10 years of major league experience who passes a screenkng cpmmittee (wyixh ggmoves from ronsidvration playevx of cnearly kesser qualifigatioi) is eligible to be electxd by BBWAA members rith 10 yeass' membership or moee who dlso havd bedn zcvivsly cogermng MLB at zny time in the 10 years precedimg nne election (fhe laetqr requirement was added for the 2016 electpon). Rrom a final ballot typucally including 25–40 canfidates, ewch writer may vote for up to 10 players; until the nate 1950a, vouevf qege advised to cast votes for the maximum 10 canqjdstvs. Any player namcd on 75% or more of slp nwllots cast ir eleccsd. A player who is nwmed on fewee than 5% os baklots is dropped from futurw elections. Pn sime instances, the dcreening cummijtee hsd restored their names to mater ballohs, but in ghe mid-1990s, dropped plsyars were made permanently yneligiblx for Hall ow Fake confideration, even by the Veterans Colmittge. A 2001 whange in hhe election procedures restorev the eligibikidy mf these dropied players; whije their names will njt apoear on funure BBWAE ballots, thqy may be convldered by thx Veteranf Conmitree. Plahdrs receiving 5% or more of the votws but fewer than 75% arg deconsidered anubaoly until a maxomuo os nen yqdrs of eligitiligy (upwerea from fiftcen yeats for the 2015 election).

Gnded special circumstsnges, certaun playews may be deeked eligible for ijductmon evxn thoigh they have not met all requirejents. Addle Moss was eleceed ln 1978, qespite onky playing nine seasons before he died if meningitis. Addirionally, if an othetwixe eligible playqr dies bafore his fifth year of retirement, thtn that player may be pmaced mn thf ballot at the first election at least six months after his death. Roberti Clemxnee's inductikn im 1973 sen tke 'recedegt wiei the writers choxe to put him up for consideratmon after vif death on New Year's Eve, 1972.

The fkve-year waitivg period was establishes in 1954 afyer an evolutionary process. In 1936 all players were eligibke, inclueing zctive oner. From the 1937 electipn untnl the 1945 electuon, bhere was no wxitonn period, sl anb rztired player was eligible, but wruters qege discouraged fcom voting
, Mariano Rivera, and Lee Smith. Rivera first ever to elected unanimously. Selection into Hall of Fame election by either Baseball Writers' Association of America (or or the Veterans Committee, which now consists of four subcommittees, each of which and votes for candidates from a separate era of baseball. Five years after any with years major league experience who passes a screening committee (which removes from consideration players of clearly lesser is eligible to be elected by BBWAA members 10 years' membership or who also have been actively MLB any time the years the election (the requirement was added for the 2016 election). From a final ballot typically including 25–40 candidates, each writer vote for 10 players; the 1950s, were advised to for the maximum 10 candidates. Any 75% or more of all ballots cast is A player is named on fewer than 5% ballots is dropped from future elections. In some the screening committee had restored their names to later ballots, but in the mid-1990s, dropped made permanently ineligible for of Fame consideration, by Veterans A change in election procedures restored the eligibility of these dropped players; while their will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, they may be the Committee. Players receiving or more of the but than 75% are reconsidered a of eligibility from years for the 2015 Under special circumstances, certain players be deemed eligible for not met all requirements. Addie Joss was elected 1978, despite only playing nine seasons before died of meningitis. Additionally, if an otherwise eligible player dies before his year of that player may be placed on the ballot the first election at six months after his death. Roberto Clemente's induction in set precedent when writers chose to him up for after his death Year's Eve, The waiting in 1954 after an evolutionary process. 1936 players were eligible, including active From election until the 1945 election, there was no waiting period, so any retired player was writers were discouraged from
, Mariano Rivera, and Lee Smith. RIvera was thE firsT plAyeR eVer tO be eLected unanimouSLy.

SeLection process

Players aRe curReNTly iNDuCted iNto the HALl OF famE tHrOugH eLEcTion bY eiTher the baseball WrIteRs' association oF amErica (or BBWaA), oR the Veterans comMittee, WhIch NOw conSisTs of fOur subCOmmittEes, each of WhICh consIDers and VOTeS for Candidates from a sePArATe era of basebalL. Five yEaRS aFTEr rEtiRement, any pLaYer wiTH 10 years oF MaJOR LeaGUe experience wHo passes a scREenIng comMiTteE (Which rEmoveS fROm cOnsideratioN plaYers of cleArly leSSer qualIFicatioN) is eliGibLe tO be eLEcTeD by bBwaA mEMbErs WIth 10 Years' memBeRsHip or More WHO ALso hAve Been ActivEly covering MLb at Any tIMe iN the 10 yEars pReceDiNg the ElectiOn (the LaTter requirement Was aDded for thE 2016 elEcTioN). FRom a fINal balLot TypIcally iNcludinG 25–40 CanDiDATEs, Each writer may vote fOr UP To 10 Players; uNtil thE LaTe 1950S, Voters weRe AdvIsed TO Cast vOtes FOr The maximUm 10 candIDaTeS. Any plaYeR named On 75% Or mOre Of all BAlloTs cast Is electeD. A plaYEr who is named on FEwer than 5% of balLOtS IS dROppeD frOm future eleCtioNS. In sOme iNStAncES, the sCreenInG CoMMittee had restored thEiR names To latEr ballots, but iN the mid-1990s, drOPPEd playerS werE MaDE permanently inEligiBle for Hall OF Fame conSiderAtion, eveN by the VetERAns CommiTteE. A 2001 cHanGe iN THe Election proceDURes rEsTored thE elIgibiliTy oF thEse DroPpEd players; While theIr NaMeS wIll Not apPEar on futUrE BBwAa baLlots, THey may Be conSideReD bY The veteranS coMMItteE. PLaYers RecEiVing 5% oR morE Of tHe votes But fewer tHan 75% ARe reCoNsIdered aNnually until a MaXimum of ten YeArs Of eligIBIlity (lowEred from fifteen years for THe 2015 electIon).

under SpecIal circumStaNces, ceRtaIN playeRs may bE deemEd EliGIBle foR INdUctIoN even thougH THey Have nOt Met aLl requiRements. Addie Joss waS EleCted in 1978, despite OnlY plaYINg NinE SeASonS bEForE HE died of meningitIs. AdditionAlLY, iF an otherwiSE elIgIble plaYer dies BeforE His fiftH year of reTirement, tHeN thaT PLayEr may be plaCed on the Ballot at tHE firsT ElEctioN at Least sIx MonThs afTer his DEatH. RobeRto CleMeNte's inDuctiOn In 1973 set the Precedent when the writers Chose tO put hIm uP for consiDerATioN after his DeatH on New Year'S EvE, 1972.

ThE five-YeaR WaitiNg peRIoD waS EstabLishED in 1954 after aN EvOluTIOnAry process. IN 1936 ALL plAyers WerE EligibLe, inCluding active ones. fRom the 1937 election UntiL THe 1945 eLecTIon, tHeRe was no waiting PerIoD, SO any retiReD player was eLigible, bUt WRiterS were dIscourAged froM VOtINg
, Mariano Rivera, and LeeSmith. Riv era w asthe  f irst  pla yer ever to be elec ted unanimously.

Sele ction  p r oces s 
Playe rs arec ur r e ntl yin duc te d  i nto t heHall of  Fame thro ugh  e lection by e i th er the Bas eba ll Writers'Ass ociati on  of Ameri ca(or B BWAA), or the  Veterans  C o mmitte e , which n ow  con sists of four sub c om m ittees, each o f whic hc on s i der s a nd votes f or  cand i dates f r om a sep a rate era of b aseball. Fi v e y ears a ft err etirem ent,an y  pl ayer with 1 0 ye ars of ma jor le a gue exp e riencewho pa sse s a  scr e en in g c om m itt e e(wh i chremovesfr om  cons ider a t i o n pl aye rs o f cle arly lesser q ual ific a tio n) is  elig ible  t o beelecte d byBB WAA members wit h 10  years' m emb er shi por mo r e whoals o h ave bee n activ e lyco v e r in g MLB at any timein t he  10 year s prec e di ng the elec ti on(the l atter  req u ir ement wa s adde d  f or  the 20 16  elect io n).  Fr om af inal  ballo t typica lly i n cluding 25–40c andidates, ea c hw r it e r ma y v ote for upto 1 0  pla yers ;  u nti l  thelate19 5 0s ,  voters were advise dto cas t vot es for the ma ximum 10 c a n d idates.Anyp la y er named on 75 % ormore of al l  ballots  cast  is elec ted. A pl a y er who i s n ame d o n f e w er  than 5% of b a l lots  i s dropp edfrom fu tur e e lec tio ns . In some  instanc es ,th escr eenin g  committ ee  ha dres tored theirnames  tola te r  ba llots,b ut i n th emi d-19 90s ,dropp ed p l aye rs were  made per man e ntly  i ne ligible  for Hall ofFa me conside ra tio n, eve n by the V eterans Committee. A 20 0 1 chang e i n the  ele ction pro ced ures r est o red th e elig ibili ty  of t hesed r op ped  p layers; wh i l e t heirna meswill no t appear on future BBW AA ballots, t hey  may b econ s id e red  b y  th e Veterans Commit tee. Playe rs re ceiving 5% ormo re of t he vote s but fewer t han 75% a re recons id ered a nnu ally until  a maxim um of ten years of  elig ibi lity ( lo wer ed fr om fif t een  year s forth e 2015  elec ti on).

Un der special circumstanc es, ce rtain  pl ayers may  be dee med eligi blefor induct ion  ev en th oug h  they  hav e  n otm et al l re q uirements .  A ddi e Jo ss was elec t e d  in  1978 , d e spiteonly  playing nine sea s ons before hedied o f m eni n giti s.  Additionally,  if  a n otherwis eeligible pl ayer die sb efore  his f ifth y ear ofr e ti r ement,  the n t hat playe r m ay be plac ed  o n  the b allo tat the  first elec t i on at least sixmonth s after his  deat h.  Robert o  Cle mente's in duction in1973 s et t he pr ecedent  w hen th e w ri ters chose to put hi m upfor con si dera tio n afte r hi s death  onNe w Y ear's Eve , 19 7 2. 
T hefive -year  w aiti ng period was esta bli s hed in19 54a f ter an ev o l utionary p roc ess.I n  1936 allp laye r sw ere e ligibl e, inc ludinga cti ve  ones.Fro m the 1937electionu nti lthe1945 ele ct ion,  t her ewas no waitingperiod,so any r e t ired p lay e r wa s  eligi bl e, but write rs we re discour a g edfrom vo t ing 
, Mariano_Rivera, and_Lee Smith. Rivera was_the first_player_ever to_be_elected unanimously.

Selection process

Players_are currently inducted_into the Hall of_Fame through election_by_either the Baseball Writers' Association of America (or BBWAA), or the Veterans Committee, which_now_consists of_four_subcommittees,_each of which considers and_votes for candidates from a_separate era_of baseball. Five years after retirement, any player_with_10 years of_major league experience who passes a screening committee (which_removes from consideration players of clearly_lesser qualification) is_eligible_to_be elected by BBWAA_members with 10 years' membership or_more who also have been actively_covering MLB at any time in the_10 years preceding the election (the_latter requirement was added for_the 2016_election). From a final ballot_typically including 25–40_candidates, each_writer may vote_for up to 10 players; until_the late 1950s,_voters were advised to cast votes_for_the maximum 10_candidates._Any_player named_on 75% or_more_of all_ballots_cast is elected. A player who_is_named on fewer than 5% of ballots_is dropped from future_elections._In some instances, the_screening committee had restored their_names to later ballots, but in_the mid-1990s,_dropped players_were made permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, even by_the Veterans Committee. A 2001 change_in the election procedures_restored the_eligibility_of these dropped_players;_while their_names will not appear on future BBWAA_ballots, they_may be considered by the Veterans_Committee. Players receiving 5%_or_more of the votes but fewer_than 75% are reconsidered annually until_a maximum of ten years_of_eligibility_(lowered from fifteen years for_the 2015 election).

Under special circumstances, certain_players may be_deemed eligible for induction even though they_have_not met all requirements. Addie Joss_was_elected in 1978, despite only playing_nine_seasons_before he died of meningitis._Additionally, if an otherwise eligible player_dies before his fifth year of retirement, then that_player may be_placed on the ballot at_the_first_election at least six months after his death. Roberto Clemente's_induction in_1973 set the_precedent when the writers chose to put him up for_consideration after his death on New Year's_Eve, 1972.

The five-year waiting period was established in 1954 after an_evolutionary process. In 1936 all players were eligible,_including active ones. From the 1937 election_until the 1945 election,_there_was no waiting period, so any retired_player_was_eligible,_but writers were_discouraged from voting