The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown announced on Monday eight candidates for the 2027 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot. The non-player ballot comprises four former managers and four former executives: Sandy Alderson, Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, Lou Piniella, Brian Sabean, Ted Turner, and Bill White.
Committee Criteria and Process
The Era Committee evaluates managers, executives, and umpires on an alternating basis with former players. Candidates must have had their most significant career impact since 1980. Managers and umpires require 10 or more major league seasons and must be retired for at least five years (candidates aged 65 or older are eligible six months after retirement). Executives must be retired for at least five years, though active executives aged 70 or older are eligible regardless of position. All candidates must not be on Baseball's Ineligible List.
Candidate Highlights
Sandy Alderson built a World Series-winning Oakland A's team and later guided the New York Mets to multiple playoff berths and a pennant as general manager. Dusty Baker, one of the winningest managers ever, led five clubs to the playoffs, won three pennants and a World Series after a distinguished playing career. Bruce Bochy is one of only six managers with at least four World Series titles, three with the San Francisco Giants and the latest with the Texas Rangers in 2023. Joe Maddon won over 1,300 games, a pennant with the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Chicago Cubs' first World Series in over a century in 2016. Lou Piniella amassed more than 1,800 managerial wins, led three clubs to the playoffs, won the 1990 World Series with Cincinnati, and guided the 2001 Seattle Mariners to a record 116 regular-season wins. Brian Sabean oversaw three World Series titles (2010, 2012, 2014) as Giants general manager after a key role with the Yankees. Ted Turner, the only posthumous candidate, owned the Atlanta Braves for two decades, innovated televised baseball distribution, and presided over 14 straight division titles and a 1995 World Series. Bill White, a five-time All-Star and Gold Glove first baseman, became the first Black play-by-play broadcaster in MLB history and the first Black president of a major sports league as National League president.
A 16-member committee will vote, with results announced on MLB Network at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 6. Candidates need 75% of ballots for election. The traditional BBWAA ballot will be revealed on November 16, with its results announced in January to complete the 2027 Hall of Fame class.
