Major League Baseball
Hall of Fame History: First Hall of Fame Class Announced
Major League Baseball

Hall of Fame History: First Hall of Fame Class Announced

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:10 p.m. ET

There is something special about being the first in anything. On this day in 1936, the first MLB Hall of Fame class was announced, with the first five players being inducted.

Their names echo throughout the history of the game, early player whose accomplishments transcend the decades. Even now, they are still legendary, their exploits living on although it has been generations since they played last. Understandably, these players made up the first class for the MLB Hall of Fame.

It was on this day that the Baseball Writers Association of America announced that first class. Inducted were legends Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, and Honus Wagner. As guidelines had yet to be established for a player to be retired for five years before appearing on the ballot, Babe Ruth was also elected, becoming one of three players to be inducted without that waiting period.

Each player was certainly deserving. Cobb was a brilliant hitter, retiring with the highest batting average in baseball history, and at the time, was the only player with over 4000 career hits. Wagner was the gold standard among shortstops, called the perfect player by future Hall of Fame manager John McGraw. Ruth completely changed the game, turning the home run into a weapon instead of just a novelty, annihilating previous power record with a vengeance.

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    The two pitchers inducted were equally dominant. Johnson was a strikeout machine, holding the record for most career strikeouts until surpassed by Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton. Mathewson was not only a highly regarded player, but was considered to be one of the best people ever to play the game.

    The list of players that missed out on that 75% threshold is equally impressive. Nap Lajoie was sixth with 64.6% of the vote. Following him were Tris Speaker and Cy Young. It is strange to imagine that Young, for him the yearly award for pitching excellence is named, was not a part of the first Hall of Fame class.

    These players were officially inducted in 1939, once the Hall of Fame was ready. All eleven living members from the four classes to that point were in attendance, beginning a tradition that remains in effect to this day.

    Everything has to begin somewhere. On this day in 1936, the first class for the MLB Hall of Fame was announced, with five truly legendary players being inducted.

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