Earl Averill Cleveland Indians

Billy Herman, Earl Averill and Bucky Harris are selected for the Hall of Fame 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1975 – Billy Herman, Earl Averill and Bucky Harris are selected for the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Herman was a ten-time All-Star second baseman who batted .304 in 15 seasons and played in four World Series. Averill batted .299 or better in nine of his first ten seasons and finished as a .318 career hitter. Harris managed the Washington Senators to two pennants in his first two seasons as a player-manager and was a career .274 hitter.

ralph kiner

Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner gains election to the Hall of Fame

ByThis Day in Baseball

On January 23, 1975, former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner gains election to the Hall of Fame in his final year on the ballot. Kiner hit 369 home runs over a 10-year career, leading the National League in home runs each season from 1946 to 1952. In one of the narrowest margins ever, Kiner is…

Cool Papa Bell
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James (Cool Papa) Bell is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues

ByThis Day in Baseball

1974 – James (Cool Papa) Bell is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. Known for his legendary footspeed, Bell joins Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Monte Irvin, as Negro Leagues greats selected to the Hall.

the Veterans Committee elects Sam Thompson, Jim Bottomley and umpire Jocko Conlan to the Hall of Fame

the Veterans Committee elects Sam Thompson, Jim Bottomley and umpire Jocko Conlan to the Hall of Fame

ByThis Day in Baseball

On January 28, 1974, the Veterans Committee elects Sam Thompson, Jim Bottomley and umpire Jocko Conlan to the Hall of Fame. Thompson batted .336 lifetime, while Bottomley drove in 100 or more runs six consecutive seasons. Bottomley also set a record by driving in 12 runs in one game.

New York Yankee greats Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford are inducted into the Hall of Fame
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New York Yankee greats Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford are inducted into the Hall of Fame

ByTom

  VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA Vintage Baseball Memorabilia January 16 1974, New York Yankee greats Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford are inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Cool Papa Bell, Jim Bottomley, Jocko Conlan, and Sam Thompson. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links Baseball-Reference Box Score 

Mickey Mantle sets the record by hitting HR's from both sides of the plate for 3rd time in his short career

Mickey Mantle becomes just the 7th player elected into the Hall of Fame on first year of eligibility

ByTom

1974 – The Baseball Writers Association of America elects former New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to the Hall of Fame. Mantle becomes only the seventh player to make it in his first try. His 536 home runs with the Yankees rank second only to Babe Ruth, and he played in more games (2,401) than any other pinstriper, including Lou Gehrig. Ford was arguably the greatest Yankees pitcher of all time, retiring with more wins (236), innings pitched (3,171), strikeouts (1,956), and shutouts (45) than anyone in club history.

Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente is inducted into the Hall of Fame in a special election
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Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente is inducted into the Hall of Fame in a special election

ByThis Day in Baseball

1973 – Four months after his death, Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente is inducted into the Hall of Fame in a special election. The Pirates outfielder was tragically killed when a cargo plane crashes during a relief effort to bring supplies to victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake on New Years Eve.

Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame

Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame

ByTom

Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame. The Baseball Writers Association of America announces the results of a special ballot, with Clemente receiving 393 of 424 votes. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve. In light of his tragic death, the Hall’s Board of Directors waived the five-year waiting period that is normally required before a player is eligible for election. A twelve-time All-Star, Clemente batted .317 and won a dozen Gold Gloves over an 18-year career, and batted .362 in World Series play. Named National League MVP in 1966, he was voted the outstanding player in the 1971 World Series, when the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles in seven games.