 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2019) |
| New inductees | 3 |
|---|---|
| via BBWAA | 1 |
| via Veterans Committee | 2 |
| Total inductees | 169 |
| Induction date | August 5, 1979 |
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1979 followed the system in place since 1978, except that players who appeared on fewer than 5% of BBWAA ballots would now no longer be eligible in future elections. The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) voted by mail to select from recent major league players and elected Willie Mays. The Veterans Committee met in closed sessions to consider older major league players as well as managers, umpires, executives, and figures from the Negro leagues. It selected Warren Giles and Hack Wilson. A formal induction ceremony was held in Cooperstown, New York, on August 5, 1979, with Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn presiding.[1] The annual Hall of Fame Game, an exhibition contest, was played the following day; this was the first time that the induction ceremony and game were held on different days.[2]
- ^ Dozer, Richard (August 6, 1979). "Mays, Durocher steal the show at Hall of Fame". Chicago Tribune. p. 6-2. Retrieved October 11, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Dobinsky, Anne (August 5, 1979). "Baseball Shrine Celebrates 40th Anniversary". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. UPI. p. C-6. Retrieved October 11, 2019 – via newspapers.com.