To the National Baseball Hall of Fame Historical Overview Committee,

• Adrian Burgos Jr (Negro League Historian, University of Illinois)
• Bob Elliot (Canadian Baseball Network)
• Jim Henneman (formerly Baltimore Sun)
• Steve Hirdt (Stats Perform)
• David O’Brien (The Athletic)
• Jim Reeves (formerly Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• Tracy Ringolsby (Sportswriter and original columnist for Baseball America)
• Glenn Schwarz (formerly San Francisco Chronicle)
• Susan Slusser (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Mark Whicker (Los Angeles News Group)
• BBWAA

It was disappointing to see the Historical Overview Committee strike out once again.

On the other hand, what of Doc Adams? The long-overlooked pioneer led the charge to standardize and refine the rules of the game in the mid-19th century, including nine-man lineups and nine-inning games — innovations inaccurately credited to Alexander Cartwright on his Hall of Fame plaque — as well as the 90-foot distance between the bases, the “fly rule” (eliminating balls caught on one bounce from being automatic outs), and the shortstop position (which helped to differentiate the game from rounders). On the 2016 Pre-Integration ballot, from which no candidate was elected, Adams had the highest share at 62.5%, but he was conspicuously absent from the 2022 Early Baseball ballot, and he now faces additional competition for space and attention from candidates who came along more than a century later. A cynic might wonder if the Hall simply wanted to spare itself the scrutiny of contradicting one of its existing plaques in the face of more modern research — and focus more upon drawing fans to Cooperstown to celebrate living honorees of more debatable merits.

Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs (2022)

I’m far less bothered by their omissions than I am that of an additional SABR Overlooked 19th Century Base Ball Legend, Daniel “Doc” Adams, whom Major League Baseball official historian John Thorn has called “first among the Fathers of Baseball” and “the most significant figure in the early history of baseball.” Adams’ contribution actually predates that 1871 date. Via his 1857 rulebook, “The Laws of Base Ball”, he bears the true responsibility for setting the bases 90 feet apart; for creating the shortstop position; for proposing the standardization of nine-man lineups and nine-inning games; and for helping to standardize the construction of balls and bats, innovations that helped to make baseball a national game. Some of his contributions have been inaccurately credited to Alexander Cartwright on his Hall of Fame plaque, and while you’d think the institution would desire to set the record straight, it’s worth remembering that the Hall’s very presence in Cooperstown is based upon the myth of General Abner Doubleday drawing up the rules in a cow pasture there in 1839 — but I digress. What really chafes is that Adams led all candidates on the 2016 Pre-Integration ballot with 62.5% of the vote — nobody was elected from that slate — but hasn’t gotten another shot.

“The 2025 Classic Baseball Ballot Is Long on Familiarity”, Short on Imagination, Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs (2024)

Doc Adams is not the only overlooked pioneer (19th century or otherwise); however, John Thorn said, “For his role in making baseball the success it is, Doc Adams may be counted as first among the Fathers of Baseball”.

Doc Adams’ credentials:

2016 National Baseball Hall of Fame Historical Overview Committee:

• Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune)
• Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun)
• Jim Henneman (formerly Baltimore Sun)
• Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau)
• Bill Madden (formerly New York Daily News)
• Jack O’Connell (BBWAA secretary/treasurer)
• Jim Reeves (formerly Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• Tracy Ringolsby (MLB.com)
• Glenn Schwarz (formerly San Francisco Chronicle)
• Mark Whicker (Los Angeles News Group)

2021 Special Early Baseball Overview Committee:

• Gary Ashwill (Negro League historian)
• Adrian Burgos Jr. (Negro League historian)
• Phil Dixon (Negro League historian)
• Leslie Heaphy (Negro League historian)
• Claire Smith (Negro League historian)
• Historical Overview Committee:
  • Jim Henneman (formerly Baltimore Sun)
  • Steve Hirdt (Stats Perform)
  • Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
  • Jim Reeves (formerly Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
  • Glenn Schwarz (formerly San Francisco Chronicle).

Since 7 of the members on this year’s committee were on the committee that put Doc Adams on the ballot (with only 4 having been on the intervening committee), a couple of thoughts come to mind:

• Does the committee believe that it met the intent expressed by Josh Rawich?
• With the larger time span of the era, the bias towards recent players vs. overlooked early pioneers is more obvious.
• What does the committee think the Hall’s position is on the Early Baseball Pioneers? What is the committee’s position?
• What is the level of early baseball knowledge and expertise on the committee?

Adams’ cause offered the Hall of Fame to strike a blow for historical accuracy. As it does so often, it swung and missed.

Robert Sampson, Historian

In any event, it’s another 3-year wait. Don’t worry, we will continue to raise awareness and will still be here to ensure that this overlooked pioneer is not forgotten.