The abstract concept had been around for a couple years by the winter of 1936, so the public was not surprised when the official announcement came.
But when the world learned on Feb. 2, 1936 that Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, a new classification arose for future players, managers, umpires and executives. And a new national dialogue – one that burns brightly today – was born.
On that day 80 years ago – three-and-a-half years before what was then called the National Baseball Museum opened in Cooperstown – the words “Hall of Famer” truly came to life.
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