Managers Dusty Baker, Lou Piniella and Joe Maddon are up for consideration for the Class of 2027.
Three American Legion Baseball alumni are among the eight nominees on the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee’s ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Class of 2027.
The committee will meet Dec. 6 in San Diego to vote on the ballot, which was announced Monday. The ballot includes four managers and four executives whose primary contribution to the game came since 1980.
Dusty Baker, who played American Legion Baseball for Post 412 in Fair Oaks, Calif., was a two-time All-Star in a 19-year playing career which included a World Series title with the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers. He then went on to manage for 26 seasons in the majors with 13 postseason appearances, including each of his final eight seasons. The three-time Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000) also won the 2022 World Series as manager of the Houston Astros. He also managed the Giants, Cubs, Reds and Nationals.
Joe Maddon played American Legion Baseball in Hazleton, Pa. He led the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years in 2016, one of eight postseason appearances in his 19 seasons as a manager. He also managed the Angels and Rays, leading Tampa Bay to its first American League pennant and first winning season in 2008. He was a three-time Manager of the Year (2008, 2011, 2015). And each August, beginning in 2009, Maddon would give his players a break from batting practice and pregame preparation for a week.
“We called it ‘American Legion Week’ to keep things loose,” Maddon told The American Legion in 2012. “Most all of us have played Legion ball at some point, when we showed up 10 minutes before game time. We didn’t need (batting practice) back then, just stretch and go.”
Lou Piniella played American Legion Baseball in West Tampa, Fla. He followed an 18-year playing career, which included World Series titles with the New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978, with a 23-season managing career. He led the Cincinnati Reds to the 1990 World Series title and won an American League-record 116 games with the 2001 Seattle Mariners. He was a three-time Manager of the Year (1995, 2001, 2008) and reached the postseason seven times. He also managed the Yankees, Devil Rays and Cubs.
Also on the ballot:
Sandy Alderson, who as general manager of the Athletics built a team that won three American League titles and the 1989 World Series title. He later worked in the Commissioner’s Office as executive vice president for baseball operations before serving in the front office of the Padres and the Mets, where he led both franchises to postseason berths.
Bruce Bochy managed four World Series champions in his 28 seasons with the Padres, Giants and Rangers. He also played nine seasons as a catcher.
Brian Sabean spent 18 years as general manager of the Giants, building teams than won three World Series between 2010 and 2014.
Media mogul Ted Turner bought the Atlanta Braves in 1976 and established them on a national level via WTBS.
Bill White followed a successful playing and broadcasting career with a term as National League president from 1989-94.
The results of the vote will be announced live on MLB Network at 8 p.m. ET Dec. 6. Candidates receiving votes on 75 percent of the ballots will be part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2027, to be inducted July 25, 2027, in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Hall of Fame electees from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will be announced Jan. 19, 2027.
- Baseball