Players are currently inducted into the Hall of Fame through election by either the Baseball Writers' Association of America (or BBWAA), or the Veterans Committee, which now consists of four subcommittees, each of which considers and votes for candidates from a separate era of baseball.

Three years later, the Hall of Fame building officially opened in Cooperstown as all of baseball paused to honor what was called “Baseball's Centennial” and as the first four Hall of Fame classes were inducted.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, honors individuals who have excelled in playing, managing, and serving the sport, and is the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, displaying baseball-related artifacts and exhibits.

1939 1939. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cooperstown on June 12th, coinciding with Baseball's centennial celebration.

The archives and collections contain over three million documents, everything from books and magazines to scrapbooks and manuscript collections, as well as over 250,000 photographic images and over 16,000 hours of recorded media.

Batter up at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Listen to classic radio broadcasts and see baseballs used in famous games. Visit the momentous Plaque Gallery and find the names of your baseball heroes. Discover interactive exhibits on Babe Ruth, the Yankees, and African American baseball players.

Batter up at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Listen to classic radio broadcasts and see baseballs used in famous games. Visit the momentous Plaque Gallery and find the names of your baseball heroes. Discover interactive exhibits on Babe Ruth, the Yankees, and African American baseball players.

342 The Hall of Fame is comprised of 342 elected members. Included are 270 former major league players, 40 executives/pioneers, 22 managers and 10 umpires.

The Hall of Fame's mission is to preserve the sport's history, honor excellence within the game and make a connection between the generations of people who enjoy baseball. Likewise the institution functions as three entities under one roof with a museum, the actual Hall of Fame and a research library.

Baseball is traditionally considered the national pastime of the United States. It was once thought to have been invented in 1839 by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, N.Y., but it is more likely that baseball developed from an 18th-century English game called rounders that was modified by Alexander Cartwright.

In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or museums that enshrine the honorees with sculptures, plaques, and displays of memorabilia and general information regarding the inducted recipients.

There is no set number of new enshrinees, but the Committee's current ground rules do stipulate that between four and eight new members will be selected each year. Every candidate is thoroughly reviewed and must receive approval from at least 80% of the full Committee to be elected.