On October 5, 2015, Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time as the National Hall of Fame announced the 10 candidates on the 2016 Pre-integration Era ballot. This marked a major milestone in the efforts to have Doc recognized with enshrinement.
For a more detailed announcement read DOC ADAMS HELPED SHAPE BASEBALL’S EARLIEST DAYS.
On December 7, 2015, the Pre-integration Era Committee announced the results of the voting on the 10 candidates on the 2016 ballot at the MLB Winter Meetings. Candidates needed to receive 12 of 16 votes (75%) for election. The committee failed to elect any one of the 10 candidates. Doc Adams received the highest vote total, just 2 shy of the required votes required for election.
This was Doc’s first time appearing on a Hall of Fame ballot. Although he was not elected THIS time, being the top vote getter, so close to election, was a major accomplishment. As recently as 4 years earlier, very few people had even heard the name Daniel Lucius ‘Doc’ Adams. Today, he is being mentioned on every sports broadcast and in almost every article and blog post on the MLB Winter Meetings. He and his contributions to the game are more well known, however, he has not fully received the recognition that he deserves – enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Voting Results
- Doc Adams: 10 votes, 62.5%
- Bill Dahlen: 8 votes, 50.0%
- Harry Stovey: 8 votes, 50.0%
The 16-member Hall of Fame Board-appointed electorate was comprised of Hall of Famers Bert Blyleven, Bobby Cox, Pat Gillick and Phil Niekro; Major League executives Chuck Armstrong (Mariners), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Gary Hughes (Red Sox) and Tal Smith (Astros); and veteran media members/historians Steve Hirdt, Peter Morris, Jack O’Connell, Claire Smith, Tim Sullivan, T.R. Sullivan, Gary Thorne and Tim Wendel.
Doc will next be eligible for the Early Baseball Era ballot to be voted on at the 2020 Winter Meetings, for 2021 Induction!