Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1977
Encyclopedia
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1977 followed the system in place since 1971.
The Baseball Writers Association of America
(BBWAA) voted by mail to select from recent major league players and
elected Ernie Banks
.
The Veterans Committee
met in closed sessions to consider executives, managers, umpires, and earlier major league players.
It selected three people: Al Lopez
, Amos Rusie
, and Joe Sewell
.
The Negro Leagues Committee also met in person and selected two players, Martín Dihigo
and John Henry Lloyd
.
The Negro Leagues Committee also determined to disband. It had elected nine players in seven years.
Voters were instructed to cast votes for up to 10 candidates; any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall. The ballot consisted of 34 players; a total of 383 ballots were cast, with 288 votes required for election. Those candidates receiving less than 5% of the vote will not appear on future BBWAA ballots but may eventually be considered by the Veterans Committee.
Candidates who were eligible for the first time are indicated here with a †. The one candidate who received at least 75% of the vote and was elected is indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been elected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics. The 11 candidates who received less than 5% of the vote, thus becoming ineligible for future BBWAA consideration, are indicated with a *.
Pee Wee Reese
, George Kell
and Walker Cooper
were on the ballot for the final time.
Harvey Kuenn, whose last game played was in 1966, was actually activated by the Brewers for the last two weeks of 1971, in order for him to qualify for pension purposes. He did not play in an actual game, however.
The newly-eligible players included 13 All-Stars, 8 of whom were not included on the ballot, representing a total of 50 All-Star selections. Among the new candidates were 11-time All-Star Ernie Banks, 8-time All-Star Harvey Kuenn, and 7-time All-Stars Jim Bunning and Camilo Pascual. The field included two MVPs (Banks, who won twice, and Zoilo Versalles), one Cy Young Award winner (Dean Chance) and one Rookie of the Year (Kuenn).
Players eligible for the first time who were not included on the ballot were: Bob Aspromonte
, Clete Boyer
, George Brunet
, Dean Chance
, Ty Cline
, Clay Dalrymple
, Dick Ellsworth
, Jake Gibbs
, Tony González, Mudcat Grant
, Dick Hall
, Jim Hannan
, Mike Hershberger
, Chuck Hinton
, Mack Jones
, Cal Koonce
, Jim Maloney
, Lee Maye
, Mike McCormick
, Don Pavletich
, Claude Raymond
, Howie Reed
, Ducky Schofield
, Al Spangler
, George Thomas
, Zoilo Versalles
, and Al Weis
.
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 Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks
Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,...
.
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 major league players.
It selected three people: Al Lopez
Al Lopez
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
, Amos Rusie
Amos Rusie
Amos Wilson Rusie , nicknamed "The Hoosier Thunderbolt", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the late 19th century...
, and Joe Sewell
Joe Sewell
Joseph Wheeler Sewell was a Major League Baseball infielder for the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees...
.
The Negro Leagues Committee also met in person and selected two players, Martín Dihigo
Martín Dihigo
Martín Magdaleno Dihigo Llanos was a Cuban player in baseball's Negro leagues and Latin American leagues who excelled at several positions, primarily as a pitcher and second baseman...
and John Henry Lloyd
John Henry Lloyd
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was an American baseball player and manager in the Negro leagues. He is generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro league history, and both Babe Ruth and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, reportedly believed Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever.He was a...
.
The Negro Leagues Committee also determined to disband. It had elected nine players in seven years.
BBWAA election
The BBWAA was authorized to elect players active in 1957 or later, but not after 1971; the ballot included candidates from the 1976 ballot who received at least 5% of the vote but were not elected, along with selected players, chosen by a screening committee, whose last appearance was in 1971. All 10-year members of the BBWAA were eligible to vote.Voters were instructed to cast votes for up to 10 candidates; any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall. The ballot consisted of 34 players; a total of 383 ballots were cast, with 288 votes required for election. Those candidates receiving less than 5% of the vote will not appear on future BBWAA ballots but may eventually be considered by the Veterans Committee.
Candidates who were eligible for the first time are indicated here with a †. The one candidate who received at least 75% of the vote and was elected is indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been elected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics. The 11 candidates who received less than 5% of the vote, thus becoming ineligible for future BBWAA consideration, are indicated with a *.
Pee Wee Reese
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted...
, George Kell
George Kell
George Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell...
and Walker Cooper
Walker Cooper
William Walker Cooper was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for six National League teams from 1940 to 1957...
were on the ballot for the final time.
| 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. | |
| Players not yet elected who returned on the 1978 ballot. | |
| Eliminated from future BBWAA voting. These individuals remain eligible for future Veterans Committee consideration. |
| Player | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| †Ernie Banks Ernie Banks Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,... |
321 | 83.8 |
| Eddie Mathews Eddie Mathews Edwin Lee "Eddie" Mathews was an American Major League Baseball third baseman. He is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen ever to play the game.-Early life:... |
239 | 62.4 |
| Gil Hodges Gil Hodges Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers... |
224 | 58.5 |
| Enos Slaughter Enos Slaughter Enos Bradsher Slaughter , nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 19-year baseball career, he played from 1938–1942 and 1946-1959 for four different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the St... |
222 | 58.0 |
| Duke Snider Duke Snider Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of... |
212 | 55.4 |
| Don Drysdale Don Drysdale Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale was a Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was one of the dominant starting pitchers of the 1960s, and became a radio and television broadcaster following his playing career... |
197 | 51.4 |
| Pee Wee Reese Pee Wee Reese Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted... |
163 | 42.6 |
| Nellie Fox Nellie Fox Jacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in... |
152 | 39.7 |
| †Jim Bunning Jim Bunning James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career... |
146 | 38.1 |
| George Kell George Kell George Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell... |
141 | 36.8 |
| Richie Ashburn Richie Ashburn Don Richard "Richie" Ashburn , also known by the nicknames, "Putt-Putt", "The Tilden Flash", and "Whitey" due to his light-blond hair, was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball. He was born in Tilden, Nebraska... |
139 | 36.3 |
| Red Schoendienst Red Schoendienst Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St... |
105 | 27.4 |
| Lew Burdette Lew Burdette Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves... |
85 | 22.2 |
| Roger Maris Roger Maris Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs... |
72 | 18.8 |
| Alvin Dark Alvin Dark Alvin Ralph Dark , nicknamed "Blackie" and "The Swamp Fox", is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. Named the major leagues' Rookie of the Year with the Boston Braves when he batted .322... |
66 | 17.2 |
| †Harvey Kuenn Harvey Kuenn Harvey Edward Kuenn was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a shortstop and outfielder, he played with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies . He batted and threw right-handed... |
57 | 14.9 |
| Ted Kluszewski Ted Kluszewski Theodore Bernard "Big Klu" Kluszewski was a Major League first baseman from 1947 through 1961. He batted and threw left-handed.-Career:... |
55 | 14.4 |
| Mickey Vernon Mickey Vernon James Barton "Mickey" Vernon was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators for the majority of his career, as well as four other teams: the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates... |
52 | 13.6 |
| Walker Cooper Walker Cooper William Walker Cooper was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for six National League teams from 1940 to 1957... |
45 | 11.7 |
| Elston Howard Elston Howard Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees... |
43 | 11.2 |
| Don Newcombe Don Newcombe Donald Newcombe , nicknamed "Newk", is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians .Until 2011 when Detroit Tigers Pitcher Justin Verlander did it, Newcombe was the only baseball... |
43 | 11.2 |
| Don Larsen Don Larsen Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series... |
39 | 10.2 |
| Roy Face Roy Face Elroy Leon Face is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953–1969, pitching primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates... |
33 | 8.6 |
| †Curt Flood Curt Flood Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons... * |
16 | 4.2 |
| Ken Boyer Ken Boyer Kenton Lloyd Boyer was an American Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During a 15-year baseball career, he played for 1955-1969 for four different teams, playing primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals... * |
14 | 3.7 |
| Bobby Thomson Bobby Thomson Robert Brown "Bobby" Thomson was a Scottish-born American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "The Staten Island Scot", he was an outfielder and right-handed batter for the New York Giants , Milwaukee Braves , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles .His season-ending three-run... * |
10 | 2.6 |
| Del Crandall Del Crandall Delmar Wesley Crandall is a former professional baseball catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves... * |
8 | 2.1 |
| Harvey Haddix Harvey Haddix Harvey Haddix, Jr. was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Redlegs , Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles . Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside of Springfield... * |
7 | 1.8 |
| Vern Law Vern Law Vernon Sanders Law is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for 16 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Career:Law was a member of the National League All Star Team in... * |
5 | 1.3 |
| Dick Groat Dick Groat Richard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325... * |
4 | 1.0 |
| Vic Wertz Vic Wertz Victor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St... * |
4 | 1.0 |
| Will White Will White William Henry "Whoop-La" White was an American Major League Baseball pitcher.White made his debut on July 20, 1877 with the Boston Red Caps at the age of 23... * |
4 | 1.0 |
| †Camilo Pascual Camilo Pascual Camilo Alberto Pascual is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During an 18-year baseball career , he played for the Washington Senators , the second Washington Senators franchise, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Indians... * |
3 | 0.8 |
| Johnny Podres Johnny Podres John Joseph Podres was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers... * |
3 | 0.8 |
Harvey Kuenn, whose last game played was in 1966, was actually activated by the Brewers for the last two weeks of 1971, in order for him to qualify for pension purposes. He did not play in an actual game, however.
The newly-eligible players included 13 All-Stars, 8 of whom were not included on the ballot, representing a total of 50 All-Star selections. Among the new candidates were 11-time All-Star Ernie Banks, 8-time All-Star Harvey Kuenn, and 7-time All-Stars Jim Bunning and Camilo Pascual. The field included two MVPs (Banks, who won twice, and Zoilo Versalles), one Cy Young Award winner (Dean Chance) and one Rookie of the Year (Kuenn).
Players eligible for the first time who were not included on the ballot were: Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
, Clete Boyer
Clete Boyer
Cletis Leroy "Clete" Boyer was a Major League Baseball player.A third baseman who also played shortstop and second base occasionally, Boyer played for the Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
, George Brunet
George Brunet
George Stuart Brunet , nicknamed "Lefty" and "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Kansas City Athletics , Milwaukee Braves , Houston Colt .45's , Baltimore Orioles , Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Seattle Pilots , Washington Senators ,...
, Dean Chance
Dean Chance
Wilmer Dean Chance is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Over the right hander's 11-year major league career, he would play for the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Detroit Tigers...
, Ty Cline
Ty Cline
Tyrone Alexander Cline was a Major League baseball player, primarily a reserve outfielder and pinch-hitter for the Cleveland Indians , Milwaukee Braves , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and Cincinnati Reds .He was instrumental in helping the...
, Clay Dalrymple
Clay Dalrymple
Clayton Errol Dalrymple was a professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles . Dalrymple was known for his strong throwing arm and solid defensive skills...
, Dick Ellsworth
Dick Ellsworth
Richard Clark Ellsworth is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers . Ellsworth batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Steve Ellsworth...
, Jake Gibbs
Jake Gibbs
Jerry Dean "Jake" Gibbs is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Yankees as a platoon catcher from 1962 to 1971. His strong hit record in 1968 earned him the nickname "Dead-Eye" Gibbs...
, Tony González, Mudcat Grant
Mudcat Grant
James Timothy "Mudcat" Grant is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Los Angeles Dodgers , Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Dick Hall
Dick Hall
Richard Wallace Hall was a Pitcher and part-time Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies .-Biography:He helped the Orioles win the 1966 and 1970 World Series and 1969 and 1971 American League...
, Jim Hannan
Jim Hannan
James John Hannan is an American retired professional baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball from 1962-71. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Senators....
, Mike Hershberger
Mike Hershberger
Norman Michael Hershberger was an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox , Kansas City/Oakland Athletics , Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers ....
, Chuck Hinton
Chuck Hinton
Charles Edward Hinton, Jr. is a former utility in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians and California Angels...
, Mack Jones
Mack Jones
Mack F. Jones , nicknamed "Mack The Knife", was a Major League Baseball left fielder who played for the Milwaukee & Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Jones was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as a...
, Cal Koonce
Cal Koonce
Calvin Lee Koonce , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1962-1971. He played for the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs.-External links:...
, Jim Maloney
Jim Maloney
James William Maloney is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels...
, Lee Maye
Lee Maye
Arthur Lee Maye was a Major League Baseball player. He played eleven seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves , Houston Astros , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and Chicago White Sox .Maye was also well known as a Rhythm & Blues singer...
, Mike McCormick
Mike McCormick (pitcher)
Michael Francis McCormick is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the New York Giants from 1956 to 1958, then the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1970...
, Don Pavletich
Don Pavletich
Donald Stephen Pavletich is a retired American professional baseball player, a catcher and first baseman for the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox .In 12 seasons he played in 536 Games, had 1,373 At Bats, 163 Runs, 349 Hits, 73 Doubles, 8 Triples, 46 Home Runs, 193...
, Claude Raymond
Claude Raymond (baseball)
Jean Claude Marc Raymond was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox , Milwaukee Braves/Atlanta Braves , Houston Colt .45's/Houston Astros and Montreal Expos...
, Howie Reed
Howie Reed
Howard Dean Reed was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1958–1971 and appeared in a total of 229 Major League games for five different franchises. He pitched in two games for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1965 World Series.-External links:...
, Ducky Schofield
Ducky Schofield
John Richard "Ducky" Schofield was a Major League Baseball infielder.Schofield made his Major League Baseball debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on July 3, 1953, and appeared in his final game on September 30, 1971. Ducky was a member of the 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates and played a...
, Al Spangler
Al Spangler
Albert Donald "Spanky" Spangler is a retired American Major League Baseball outfielder.Spangler attended Duke University. He was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves on June 14, 1954...
, George Thomas
George Thomas (baseball)
George Edward Thomas, Jr. was a Major League Baseball outfielder. His Major League career lasted from to ; he compiled a career batting average of .255. After playing for the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Bill Monbouquette in 1965...
, Zoilo Versalles
Zoilo Versalles
Zoilo Casanova Versalles Rodriguez , nicknamed "Zorro", was a Cuban shortstop in Major League Baseball, who was considered a solid leadoff man, and a good baserunner whose speed helped him to cover a huge area at shortstop...
, and Al Weis
Al Weis
Albert John Weis is a former Major League Baseball infielder.Weis grew up in Bethpage, New York, and graduated from Farmingdale, New York, High School in 1955...
.
External links
- 1977 Election at www.baseballhalloffame.org