The Board of Directors of the Baseball Reliquary announce the group of candidates for election to the 2024 class of the Shrine of the Eternals. New candidates proposed by Reliquarians are, in alphabetical order: Rod Beck (Cubs and Giants closer, and founder of charity to help children with HIV), Maybelle Blair (AAGBPL alumna), Roy Campanella (Negro Leagues and Brooklyn Dodgers star), Sean Doolittle (the irreverent, “Conscience of Baseball”), Mike Fiers (blew the whistle on the Astros), Kirk Gibson (hitter of historic home runs, Tigers announcer, and Parkinson’s awareness advocate), Joe Madden (Cubs World Series manager), David N. Mullany (inventor of the wiffleball), Kim Ng (former Marlins GM), Morganna Roberts (“The Kissing Bandit”), Al Schacht (the original “Clown Prince of Baseball”), and Andy Strasberg (“founder” of the Roger Maris fan club and former Padres executive), and Joe West (holds the record for umpiring the most MLB games).
Returning to the ballot will be 27 candidates from the 2020 election. The percentage of the ballots on which they appeared is provided with their names: Effa Manley (29%). Mamie Johnson (27%), Dusty Baker (25%), Felipe Alou (22%), Octavius Cato (22%), Rube Waddell (22%), Melissa Ludtke (20.5%), Hideo Nomo (20.5%), Annie Savoy (20.5%), Mike Veeck (20.5%), Ralph Branca (20%), Charles M. Conlon (20%). Charley Pride (19.5%), John Young (19.5%), Charley Finley (19%), Jack Kerouac (19%), Denny McClain (19%), Bill White (19%), Chet Brewer (18.5%), Dr. Mike Marshall (18.5%), Leo Durocher (18%), Ron LeFlore (18%), Ernie Harwell (18%), Janet Marie Smith (17%), Julio Franco (16%), Luke Easter (15.5%), and John Kruk (15.5%).
By April 1, brief bios of all candidates will be provided with ballots, which will be sent out to current Reliquary members.
