For the first time in more than two decades, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is changing its rules regarding the induction of recently retired players. Under the new system, effective immediately, players will remain on the ballot for a maximum of only 10 years, instead of 15.
Previously, players stayed on the ballot for up to 15 years -- as long as they were listed on at least five percent of the ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in the previous year. Though that percentage remains the same, Hall of Fame candidates will now shift from the BBWAA ballot to the Era Committee system after a decade of eligibility.
"The Board is committed to keeping the policies and voting procedures of the Hall of Fame relevant," said Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. "We believe the BBWAA has done an excellent job of honoring the criteria advanced by the Hall of Fame -- player's record, contributions to the teams on which the player played, character, sportsmanship and integrity -- to determine individuals who belong in the Hall of Fame by the highest threshold, a 75 percent majority. The Board believes these changes are necessary to ensure the integrity of the voting process moving forward."
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/baseball-hall-of-fame-changes-its-induction-rules?ymd=20140726&content_id=86398586&vkey=news_mlb