HOF board adjusts Veterans Committee rules

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — After two years of no electees by separate Veterans Committees, the National Baseball Hall of Fame board of directors moved on Saturday to change the process.

The emphasis will now be on players, managers, umpires and executives whose careers began in 1988 moving forward, with active executives eligible at age 70 no matter their current positions in Major League Baseball or the 30 clubs. Previously, executives had to be retired and at least 65 to be considered.

That committee, entitled, Today’s Game, will now meet twice in five years, beginning later this year.

“This is not unusual. It’s about staying relevant,” Hall president Jeff Idelson said on Saturday. “There’s now stronger emphasis on players who have recently fallen off the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballots. No group of candidates is being left out. We’ve always left the door open.”

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Two years ago, the board cut eligibility of players on the BBWAA ballot from 15 years to 10. The waiting period for players going on what was then the “Expansion Era” ballot was one year. Now it is none.

The Expansion Era has been split into two committees. The other is called the “Modern Era,” aimed at players, managers, executives and umpires whose careers had an impact from 1970-87. The “Golden Days” committee encompasses the same group from ’50-69. Like the Today’s Game committee, both will meet twice in five years.

The “Early Baseball” Committee, judging those who played, ruled or governed from 1871-1949 will now meet every 10 …

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