The highest honor afforded an individual by the Baseball Reliquary is election to the Shrine of the Eternals. Similar in concept to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Shrine of the Eternals differs philosophically in that statistical accomplishment is not the principal criterion for election. It is believed that the election of individuals on merits other than statistics and playing ability will offer the opportunity for a deeper understanding and appreciation of baseball than has heretofore been provided by “Halls of Fame” in the more traditional and conservative institutions.
Criteria for election shall be: the distinctiveness of play (good or bad); the uniqueness of character and personality; and the imprint that the individual has made on the baseball landscape. Electees, both on and off the diamond, shall have been responsible for developing baseball in one or more of the following ways: through athletic and/or business achievements; in terms of its larger cultural and sociological impact as a mass entertainment; and as an arena for the human imagination.
Anyone associated with baseball, past or present, is eligible for election, including players, managers and coaches, umpires, executives and administrators, broadcasters and writers, fans, and those who have interpreted the game through artistic and cultural mediums. Fictional characters from the realms of literature, drama, motion pictures, etc., may also be considered.
By authorization of the Board of Directors of the Baseball Reliquary, three individuals will be elected to the Shrine of the Eternals on an annual basis by the organization’s membership. All members in good standing, including honorary members, shall be eligible to vote. A screening committee will be appointed by the Board of Directors to prepare a ballot, listing in alphabetical order candidates for election to the Shrine of the Eternals. The ballot will be mailed to the membership, and the three candidates receiving the most votes in any year will be elected.
