In Cooperstown, N. V., rests the Hall of Fame of baseball. Here in a shrine are housed the mementos of the immortals of the game, who have left their stamp of greatness on our national sport.
A Centennial Committee composed of Kenesaw M. Landis, William Harridge, Ford Frick, John A. Heydler. Clark Griffith, Ed Barrow, and Connie Mock chose the old time group of baseball notables and left it to a 75% vote of the Baseball Writers’ Association to name the more modern players.
Appointed By The Hall Of Fame Committee
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Morgan C. Bulkeley, first president of the National League
Ban Johnson, first President of the American League
Connie Mack, perennial leader of the Philadelphia A’s
John McGraw, fiery leader of the N. Y. Giants
George Wright. star on the first professional team
1938
Alexander Cartwright, framer of the first rules and designer of the baseball diamond
Henry Chadwick, pioneer baseball writer author of the first rule-book
1939
Adrian “Cap” Anson, greatest hitter of the 19th century
Charles Comiskey, player and owner of the Chicago White Sox William “Candy” Cummings, pitcher and creator of the curve ball.
Charles Radbournc, known as “Old Hoss,” the most feared pitcher of his time
A. G. Spalding, baseball executive and one-time pitcher
1944
Kenesaw Mountain Landis, first high commissioner of baseball
1945
Dan Brouthers, Fred Clarke, James Collins, Ed Delahanty, Hugh Duffy, Hush jennings, Michael Kelly, James O’Rourke, Wilbert Robinson and Roger Bresnohon—all of them old time baseball greats.
1946
Some more Famous old.time ball players were appointed: Jesse Burkett, Frank Chance, John Chesbro, Johnny Evers, Clark Griffith, Thomas F. McCarthy, Joseph J. McGinnity, Edward S. Plank, Joseph B. Tinker, George Edward Waddell, Edward A. Walsh
Elected By The Baseball Writers Association Of America
1936
Ty Cobb, outfielder and champion hitter and baserunner
Walter Johnson, famed speed ball pitcher
Christy Mathewson, famous pitcher George H. “Babe” Ruth, home run king
John Peter “Hans” Wagner, short stop, leading hitter, and champion baserunner
1937
Napoleon Lajoie, second baseman and batting champ
Tris Speaker, outfielder and batting champ
Denton C. “Cy” Young, who pitched in most games and won the greatest number of games (won 511, lost 315)
1938
Grover Alexander, pitcher (won 373, lost 208)
1939
Eddie Collins, second baseman and batting star
Lou Gehrig First baseman and hitting champion
Willie Keeler, outfielder and batting champion
George Sisler, batting champ and famous first baseman
1942
Rogers Hornsby, infielder and hitting star
1947
Robert “Lefty” Grove and Carl Hubbell, famed pitchers, Gordon “Mickey” Cochrane, catcher, and Frankie Frisch, infielder
1948
Herb Pennock, pitcher, and Harold “Pie” Traynor, infielder