Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1955 followed a system established for odd-number years in 1953. 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) voted by mail to select from recent major league players and elected four: Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio

Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...

, Gabby Hartnett

Gabby Hartnett

Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...

, Ted Lyons, and Dazzy Vance

Dazzy Vance

Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance was a star Major League Baseball starting pitcher during the 1920s.-Biography:...

.
The Veterans Committee

Veterans Committee

The Veterans Committee is the popular name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players, a committee of the U.S...

 met in closed sessions to consider executives, managers, umpires, and earlier players.
It selected two players, Frank Baker

Frank Baker

John Franklin "Home Run" Baker was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1922, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. As a member of the famed $100,000 infield, Baker helped the Philadelphia Athletics win the 1910, 1911 and 1913 World Series...

 and Ray Schalk

Ray Schalk

Raymond William Schalk was a professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of pitchers and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the...

.

BBWAA election

Any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall. Votes were cast for 65 players; a total of 251 ballots were cast, with 189 votes required for election. For the third and (as of 2009) most recent time, the election produced at least four inductees.

The four candidates who received 75% of the vote and were elected are indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been elected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics.

Key to colors

	Elected to the Hall. These individuals are also indicated in bold italics.
	Players who were elected in future elections. These individuals are also indicated in plain italics.

Player	Votes	Percent
Joe DiMaggio Joe DiMaggio Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...	223	88.8
Ted Lyons	217	86.5
Dazzy Vance Dazzy Vance Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance was a star Major League Baseball starting pitcher during the 1920s.-Biography:...	205	81.7
Gabby Hartnett Gabby Hartnett Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...	195	77.7
Hank Greenberg Hank Greenberg Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...	157	62.5
Joe Cronin Joe Cronin Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...	135	53.8
Max Carey Max Carey Max George Carey was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961...	119	47.4
Ray Schalk Ray Schalk Raymond William Schalk was a professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of pitchers and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the...	113	45.0
Edd Roush Edd Roush Edd J. Roush was a Major League Baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He played the majority of his career in center field....	97	38.6
Hank Gowdy Hank Gowdy Henry Morgan Gowdy was a professional baseball catcher and a first baseman who played in the major leagues for the New York Giants and the Boston Braves...	90	35.9
Hack Wilson Hack Wilson Lewis Robert "Hack" Wilson was an American professional baseball player who played 12 seasons with the New York Giants, Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies...	81	32.3
Lefty Gomez Lefty Gómez Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez was an American left-handed major league pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. Considered one of the great pitchers of the day, Gomez was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time World Series Champion with the Yankees...	71	28.3
Tony Lazzeri Tony Lazzeri Anthony Michael "Tony" Lazzeri was an American Major League Baseball player during the 1920s and 1930s, predominantly with the New York Yankees. He was part of the famed "Murderers' Row" Yankee batting lineup of the late 1920s , along with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Bob Meusel...	66	26.3
Red Ruffing Red Ruffing Charles Herbert "Red" Ruffing was a Major League Baseball pitcher most remembered for his time with the highly successful New York Yankees teams of the 1930s and 1940s...	60	23.9
Zack Wheat Zack Wheat Wheat played his first full season in . He played every game for the Superbas that season as the regular left fielder, leading the league in games played. He batted .284 that season, the second-lowest average of his career, which led the team, and was among the league leaders in hits, doubles, and...	51	20.3
Ross Youngs Ross Youngs Ross Middlebrook Youngs was a Major League Baseball outfielder best known for his superb defense and consistent hitting....	48	19.1
Kiki Cuyler Kiki Cuyler Hazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler was a Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until 1938. He was born in Harrisville, Michigan.Cuyler broke into the big leagues in 1921 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a fixture in the lineup in 1924...	35	13.9
Rube Marquard Rube Marquard Richard William "Rube" Marquard was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1910s and early 1920s...	35	13.9
Duffy Lewis Duffy Lewis George Edward "Duffy" Lewis , born in San Francisco, California, was a left fielder and left-handed batter who played Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators...	34	13.5
Waite Hoyt Waite Hoyt Waite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...	33	13.1
Sam Rice Sam Rice Edgar Charles "Sam" Rice was an American pitcher and right fielder in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963....	28	11.2
Red Faber Red Faber Urban Clarence "Red" Faber was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from through , playing his entire career for the Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....	27	10.8
Jim Bottomley Jim Bottomley James Leroy Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful disposition, he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.-Career:As a first baseman for the...	26	10.4
Dickie Kerr Dickie Kerr Richard Henry "Dickey" Kerr was a starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from -. As a rookie, he won 13 games and both his starts in the 1919 World Series, which would lead to the permanent suspensions of eight of his teammates in the Black Sox Scandal...	25	10.0
Chuck Klein Chuck Klein Charles Herbert "Chuck" Klein was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates ....	25	10.0
Babe Adams Babe Adams Charles Benjamin "Babe" Adams was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1906 to 1926 who spent nearly his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...	24	9.6
Dave Bancroft Dave Bancroft David James "Beauty" Bancroft was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1930. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame....	19	7.6
Jimmie Wilson Jimmie Wilson James Wilson , nicknamed "Ace," was an American professional athlete in soccer and baseball.He began his professional sports career as a soccer outside right in the National Association Football League and American Soccer League before becoming a catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball...	13	5.2
Wilbur Cooper Wilbur Cooper Arley Wilbur Cooper was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A four-time winner of 20 games in the early 1920s, he was the first National League left-hander to win 200 games...	11	4.4
Muddy Ruel Muddy Ruel Herold Dominic "Muddy" Ruel was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager and general manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons with the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and the Chicago White Sox...	11	4.4
Jesse Haines Jesse Haines Jesse Joseph "Pop" Haines, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and knuckleballer. He played briefly in 1918, then from 1920 to 1937.-Career:...	10	4.0
Howard Ehmke Howard Ehmke Howard Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35...	8	3.2
Eppa Rixey Eppa Rixey Eppa Rixey Jr. , nicknamed "Jephtha", was an American left-handed pitcher who played 21 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1933...	8	3.2
Everett Scott Everett Scott Lewis Everett Scott , nicknamed "Deacon", was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Scott batted and threw right-handed...	8	3.2
Goose Goslin Goose Goslin Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...	7	2.8
Art Nehf Art Nehf Arthur Neukom Nehf was an American baseball pitcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Boston Braves , New York Giants , Cincinnati Reds , and the Chicago Cubs...	7	2.8
Clyde Milan Clyde Milan Jesse Clyde Milan was an American baseball player who spent his entire career as an outfielder with the Washington Senators . He was not a powerful batter, but was adept at getting on base and was fleet of foot, receiving the nickname "Deerfoot" for his speed...	6	2.4
Heinie Groh Heinie Groh Henry Knight "Heinie" Groh was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball who spent nearly his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants. He was the National League's top third baseman in the late 1910s and early 1920s, and captained championship teams with the Reds and ...	5	2.0
Babe Herman Babe Herman Floyd Caves "Babe" Herman was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who was best known for his several seasons with the Brooklyn Robins ....	5	2.0
Travis Jackson Travis Jackson Travis Calvin Jackson was a Major League Baseball player during the 1920s and 1930s. His exceptional range at shortstop led to the nickname "Stonewall."...	5	2.0
Bill Wambsganss Bill Wambsganss William Adolf Wambsganss was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1914 through 1926, Wambsganss played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Athletics...	5	2.0
Chick Hafey Chick Hafey Charles James "Chick" Hafey was an American player in Major League Baseball. Hafey was part of two World Series championship teams as a St. Louis Cardinal, and was selected by the Veteran's Committee for the Hall of Fame in .Playing for the St...	4	1.6
Arky Vaughan Arky Vaughan Joseph Floyd "Arky" Vaughan was a professional baseball player. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball between 1932 and 1948 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers, primarily a shortstop...	4	1.6
Glenn Wright Glenn Wright Forest Glenn Wright, nicknamed "Buckshot" , was a former professional baseball player who played short stop in the Major Leagues from 1924-1935. Wright would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox...	4	1.6
Luke Appling Luke Appling Lucius Benjamin Appling was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....	3	1.2
Burleigh Grimes Burleigh Grimes Burleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.-Career:Nicknamed "Ol' Stubblebeard", Grimes was...	3	1.2
Cy Williams Cy Williams Frederick "Cy" Williams was a Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies ....	3	1.2
Earl Averill Earl Averill Howard Earl Averill was an American player in Major League Baseball who was a center fielder from 1929 to 1941...	2	0.8
George Earnshaw George Earnshaw George "Moose" Earnshaw was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in parts of nine seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was the American League wins leader in 1929 with the A's...	2	0.8
Joe Judge Joe Judge Joseph Ignatius Judge was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played nearly his entire career for the Washington Senators...	2	0.8
Bob Meusel Bob Meusel Robert William "Bob" Meusel was an American baseball left and right fielder who played in Major League Baseball for eleven seasons from 1920 through 1930, all but the last for the New York Yankees...	2	0.8
Johnny Allen Johnny Allen (baseball) John Thomas Allen was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants....	1	0.4
Charlie Berry Charlie Berry Charles Francis Berry was an American athlete and sports official who enjoyed careers as a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and as an offensive end and official in the National Football League...	1	0.4
Max Bishop Max Bishop Max Frederick Bishop was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox . Bishop batted left-handed and threw right-handed...	1	0.4
Earle Combs Earle Combs Earle Bryan Combs was an American professional baseball player, who played his entire career for the New York Yankees . Combs batted leadoff and played center field on the Yankees' fabled 1927 team...	1	0.4
Jake Daubert Jake Daubert Jacob Ellsworth Daubert was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn Superbas and Cincinnati Reds. His career lasted from 1910 until his death in 1924....	1	0.4
Paul Derringer Paul Derringer Samuel Paul Derringer was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams from 1931 to 1945, primarily the Cincinnati Reds....	1	0.4
Jimmy Dykes Jimmy Dykes James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...	1	0.4
Joe Gordon	1	0.4
Mule Haas Mule Haas George William Haas was a center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1925 through 1938, Haas played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox...	1	0.4
Sam Jones Sad Sam Jones Samuel Pond "Sad Sam" Jones was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in the American League with the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox . A native of Woodsfield, Ohio, Jones batted and threw...	1	0.4
Roger Peckinpaugh Roger Peckinpaugh Roger Thorpe Peckinpaugh was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox...	1	0.4
Hal Schumacher Hal Schumacher Harold Henry Schumacher was an American baseball player. He played in the majors from 1931-1946 for the New York Giants. Hal was still a student at St. Lawrence University when he first signed with the Giants, graduating in 1933.-External links:...	1	0.4
Joe Sewell Joe Sewell Joseph Wheeler Sewell was a Major League Baseball infielder for the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees...	1	0.4
Bill Sherdel Bill Sherdel William Henry Sherdel was a former professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of fifteen seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves. For his career, he compiled a 165-146 record in 514 appearances, with an 3.72 earned run average and 839 strikeouts...	1	0.4

Voting patterns

• When there is an influx of qualified candidates, like there were for many years after the Hall was opened, voters tend to spread their votes out more. Joe DiMaggio's 88.8% is not an aberration of the time, and a player of his caliber would probably receive over 95% if voted on today (Ripken, Gwynn, Henderson, etc).

• The only player who received at least 15% of the vote and has not, as of 2009, been elected is Hank Gowdy, at 35.9%. Gowdy fared reasonably well in these elections, primarily because of his defensive ability. However, as time passes, voters generally tend to focus more on offensive statistics. This may be the reason why Gowdy hasn't been elected and players like Arky Vaughan and Chuck Klein, with much lower vote totals, have.

• Dickie Kerr's 10% vote total is very surprising in retrospect. His success is attributed to being one of the "clean" Sox of the 1919 World Series
  1919 World Series
  The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
  
  .

External links

• 1955 Election at www.baseballhalloffame.org