There are a series of qualifications a player must achieve before they can forever be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. First off only active and honorary members of the Baseball Writer's Association of America do the voting. These writers have to have been an active baseball writer for at least 10 years and been active as a member of the Association for at least 10 years prior to the election. These guidelines are in place to make sure the right players get in and the wrong ones don't.

Now there are 5 requirements that each player must have before being eligible for election. First each player much have been an active Major Leaguer during a period beginning 20 years before and ending 5 years before the election. Next each player has to of played in 10 Major League Championship seasons within the years previously stated. Each player has to have retired from being an active player at least 5 years before the election to be eligible. They can however be involved in other baseball activities. If an active or retired player of less than 5 years dies he will then be eligible for the next election at least 6 months after his death or at the end of 5 years from his retiring, whichever comes first. The final rule is a player on Baseball's ineligible list will not be an eligible candidate.

Next we can go over the voting process. Before the voting can proceed, 6 Baseball Writer's Association of America (BBWAA) are elected. These writers are called the BBWAA Screening Committee. Their job is to compile a list of eligible candidates in alphabetical order. These candidates must have received at least 1 vote on a minimum of 5% in past ballots. Or a candidate must be eligible for the first time and be elected by one of the 6 members.

Electing writers can vote for between 0 and 10 players on each ballot. There are no write-in votes permitted. Any player that receives at least 75% of the votes will be elected into the Hall of Fame. Voting is only based upon his record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and other contributions. There are no automatic elections for a player based on one performance such as bating .400 for a season or any other amazing performance.

Each writer has to sign and return his completed ballot within 20 days and no later that the 15th of January in a year of voting. A representative of the BBWAA and an officer of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum must then certify the results. The results are then given to the Commissioner of Baseball. Finally the BBWAA and the Hall of Fame release the results for publication. The Hall of Fame also holds the right to revoke, alter or amend any rules at anytime. This is the process that players go through so they are forever remembered for their greatness.

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