Sooperstown Process and Rules
Eligibility
All those involved in the formation of the game of baseball, excellence on the field as a player, manager, coach, umpire or excellence off the field as a league or team executive or member of the baseball media.
There is no restriction to the number of years a player must play to be eligible (i.e. no 10 year rule).
A player must be retired 5 years before becoming eligible, unless the player passes away while active or within the 5 year waiting period so that he becomes immediately eligible.
A players' Hall candidacy will be restricted to the year he becomes eligible (i.e. there is no 10 years on the ballot).
There is no limit to the number of people that could be elected in a given year.
There is no "character clause". The only criteria is what a person produced on the field or off the field in a supporting capacity. Scoundrels, cheaters, law breakers and assholes are all welcome.
Process
Elections to each hall occur annually beginning in 1876 (America's Centennial and the beginning of the National League). This gives each era a chance to consider those who have just recently been playing or contributing and not decades later.
Electees to the Halls of Fame are considered from three categories (Pioneer, Player, Contributor)
A Pioneer is someone from the pre-professional era (before 1871) or from the pre-Negro Leagues (before 1920).
A Contributor is someone who excelled not as either a Pioneer or a Player (i.e. umpires, executives, writers, etc.)
A person may be elected under multiple categories, such as a Pioneer/Player (i.e. Joe Start), a Player/Contributor (i.e. Al Spalding), or a Pioneer/Contributor (i.e. Henry Chadwick).
There is no special requirement for Pioneer, other than they have contributed to the game in a meaningful way (ex. Jim Creighton or Rube Foster) and will be considered after the respective Pioneer era has passed.
There is no special requirement for Contributors, other than they have contributed to the game in a meaningful way (ex. Branch Rickey) and will be considered either once they have stopped contributing or their death whichever is earlier.
Only those eligible will be considered in a given selection year.
Other
Those players with 20 awards for non-Negro League players and 15 awards for Negro League players will be eligible for the Hall of Distinction at a minimum, with the opportunity to be elected to the Hall of Excellence or Hall of Accomplishment as earned.