Baseball Hall of Fame

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY — the highest honor a professional baseball player can receive.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Cooperstown, New York, is the sport's highest honor. Inductees are selected by two primary paths: the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), which votes annually for players who have been retired for at least five years; and the Today's Game Committee, which evaluates players and executives overlooked by the BBWAA.

A player must receive 75% of votes cast by eligible BBWAA members to be inducted. Players remain on the BBWAA ballot for up to 10 years (reduced from 15 in 2015). After that, they are eligible for committee consideration.

The statistical thresholds that historically predict induction vary by position and era. For hitters: 500 home runs, 3,000 hits, and a career batting average above .300 have been strong markers. For pitchers: 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and ERAs below league average. The modern era has shifted toward WAR-based analysis.

Active players cannot be inducted until five years after retirement. AllFame projects the likelihood of eventual induction while players are still competing, using the HOF Score algorithm.