The BBWAA Hall of Fame writers again swing and miss

It isn’t easy to gain entrance into the BBWAA. Since my son and I host a podcast at AlmostCooperstown.com, we dream about what it would be like if one or both of us were in the BBWAA and were able to vote on players Hall of Fame worthiness. From what we’ve seen in recent years, more writers in the BBWAA are disavowing their votes entirely in protest of what they feel are unfair biases — one way or the other.

The Wikipedia entry describing the BBWAA is of a reasonable length. Below are excerpts:

‘The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908,[1] to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century; It also sought to promote uniformity of scoring methods, and to professionalize the press box, such that access was limited only to working reporters, telegraphers, and others who had a reason to be there. The forty-three founding members of the Baseball Writers Association first met in mid-October 1908

The organization’s primary function is to work with Major League Baseball and individual teams to assure clubhouse and press-box access for BBWAA members. In addition, BBWAA members also elect players to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which is the organization’s most public function. All writers with 10 continuous years of membership in the BBWAA, plus active BBWAA membership at any time in the preceding 10 years, are eligible to vote for the Hall of Fame. The BBWAA also votes annually for the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Most Valuable Player Award, Cy Young Award, Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, and Manager of the Year Award in each of the two major leagues. The Hall of Fame also empowers the BBWAA’s Historical Overview Committee, made up of 11 or 12 veteran BBWAA members, to formulate the annual ballot for the Veterans Committee.

Considering the ready availability of television broadcasts for the majority of baseball games, plus instant access to information through the Internet, some have called into question why the BBWAA has not broadened its membership rules to include broadcasters and researchers.[7] (Similar arguments were made for the inclusion of Web-based journalists, before the BBWAA added Web writers to its ranks in December 2007.)[8]

Others have openly questioned why the BBWAA is involved in the award and Hall of Fame voting processes at all,[9] citing in some cases journalistic integrity and the need to remain unbiased in their coverage of newsworthy events.[10] The BBWAA’s most public function is to annually vote on candidates for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

In or about 2000, the BBWAA took over the voting responsibility for the Edgar Martínez Award, given each year to the outstanding designated hitter in the American League.

From 1953 to 1962, the BBWAA presented a “Sophomore of the Year Award” in each league.[11]

In 1997, a 36-member BBWAA panel selected the Major League Baseball All-Time Team.

In 2007, the BBWAA opened its membership to web-based writers employed on a full-time basis by “websites that are credentialed by MLB for post-season coverage.”[8]’

It does not make sense that there are zero players both current and past that vote. It does not makes sense that broadcasters who call games and follow the teams every single day, do not have a vote. New York Times baseball writer and author @TylerKepner wrote about how a poll of past players would have a different outcome than what came from the BBWAA. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/sports/baseball/hall-of-fame.html

We still think it would be a cool thing to have a vote but the line in front of us should be longer. Much longer.