Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1944
Encyclopedia
There was no regular election in 1944
to select inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame; in 1939 the Baseball Writers Association of America
(BBWAA) had moved to hold elections every three years rather than annually, and the next scheduled election was to be in 1945. In addition, the four-member Old-Timers Committee
formed in late 1939 to select deserving individuals from the 19th century had still never met for that purpose, and criticism of the lack of honorees from that period was increasing.
On August 4, 1944, baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
named three new members to the Hall of Fame Committee, in addition to the four already named; he instructed them to put aside any delay and choose at least 10 individuals from the period 1876-1900 when they met early in 1945, in order that those selected might be honored concurrently with any elected by the BBWAA in their regular election in January. This was a goal the committee members believed they would have no problem meeting, and some noted that the number of deserving players was probably over two dozen. The previously named committee members were: Yankees president Ed Barrow
; Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack
; New York sportswriter Sid Mercer
; and Braves president Bob Quinn
. The newly named members were: Hall of Fame president Stephen C. Clark
, who would chair the committee; Hall of Fame treasurer Paul S. Kerr, who would serve as committee secretary; and Boston sportswriter Mel Webb.
Landis was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on June 13, 1946, with New York Governor Thomas Dewey
unveiling his plaque in Cooperstown.
1944 in sports
1944 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:* Green Bay Packers defeats 14-7 New York Giants in New York City for the NFL title...
to select inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame; in 1939 the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
(BBWAA) had moved to hold elections every three years rather than annually, and the next scheduled election was to be in 1945. In addition, the four-member Old-Timers Committee
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1942
The 1942 election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was the first conducted in three years. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from 20th century players and elected Rogers Hornsby....
formed in late 1939 to select deserving individuals from the 19th century had still never met for that purpose, and criticism of the lack of honorees from that period was increasing.
On August 4, 1944, baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
named three new members to the Hall of Fame Committee, in addition to the four already named; he instructed them to put aside any delay and choose at least 10 individuals from the period 1876-1900 when they met early in 1945, in order that those selected might be honored concurrently with any elected by the BBWAA in their regular election in January. This was a goal the committee members believed they would have no problem meeting, and some noted that the number of deserving players was probably over two dozen. The previously named committee members were: Yankees president Ed Barrow
Ed Barrow
Edward Grant Barrow was an American manager and executive in Major League Baseball, primarily with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox...
; Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
; New York sportswriter Sid Mercer
Sid Mercer
James Sidney Mercer was an American sports writer who covered mostly boxing and baseball in St. Louis, Missouri and in New York City....
; and Braves president Bob Quinn
Bob Quinn (baseball)
James Aloysius Robert Quinn was an American executive in Major League Baseball who became renowned for his management of four different franchises....
. The newly named members were: Hall of Fame president Stephen C. Clark
Stephen Carlton Clark
Stephen Carlton Clark, Sr. DSM, was an American art collector, newspaper publisher, benefactor and founder of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.-Biography:...
, who would chair the committee; Hall of Fame treasurer Paul S. Kerr, who would serve as committee secretary; and Boston sportswriter Mel Webb.
Election of Commissioner Landis
Landis died on November 25, even as plans were being made to extend his contract for a new 7-year term. Within days, the public and press strongly advocated his immediate election to the Hall. Two weeks after Landis' death, the Old-Timers Committee met at baseball's winter meetings in New York City and unanimously moved to elect Landis to membership in the Hall of Fame; Connie Mack sent his approval of the move by telegram from California, where he was vacationing. The members stated that any delay in electing Landis might have been resulted in an unfortunate increase in public pressure, possibly creating the impression that the move was somehow forced rather than voluntary. The committee also suggested that if the upcoming BBWAA election failed to select any players whose careers extended into the early 20th century, some would be selected by the committee when they met again in February 1945.Landis was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on June 13, 1946, with New York Governor Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
unveiling his plaque in Cooperstown.