The Reds Hall of Fame debuted in 1958 with the induction of Ernie Lombardi, Johnny Vander Meer, Paul Derringer, Bucky Walters and Frank McCormick. All were stars from the 1939-'40 championship teams.
The Reds Hall of Fame is the biggest team Hall of Fame in baseball with 75 members. In July 2008, Barry Larkin, Joey Jay, Cesar Geronimo and August "Garry" Herrmann became the most recent inductees.
From 1958-'88, players were selected by a fan vote. Ballots were printed in the newspapers. After a nine-year hiatus, Hall of Fame inductions were revived in 1998 by the Cincinnati chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America and the COO of the Reds, John Allen. The writers, whose national organization selects the players for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, elected the players to the Reds Hall of Fame from 1998-2004.
In 2004, the Board of Directors of the new Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum decided to return the vote to the fans. The Reds Hall of Fame Veterans Committee selects players, managers and executives for induction that are not eligible for the fan ballot. Elections take place in odd-numbered years with induction ceremonies occurring in even-numbered years. The next election will take place later this summer with an induction ceremony to follow in 2010.
Players must have played for the Reds for a minimum of three seasons and have been retired for three seasons. Players active in Major League Baseball within the last 13 years will be considered for the fan ballot. Players playing in Major League Baseball more than 13 years ago will be considered by the Veterans Committee.
Every inductee has been honored with a bronze plaque containing a likeness of the player. The Reds plaques are similar in quality and appearance to the plaques of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Until the new Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 2004, the Hall of Fame plaques did not have a permanent home. During the Crosley Field years, the Hall of Fame plaques hung on beams in the concession areas beneath the main stands. During the Riverfront years, the plaques were kept in storage and occasionally put on public display. In September 2004, the plaques were hung in their permanent home in the Reds Hall of Fame exhibit gallery.
Counting the 2008 Class, the Reds Hall of Fame includes 69 players, three managers and three executives. The 69 players include 26 pitchers, 19 outfielders, 6 first baseman, 7 second baseman, 5 shortstops, 2 third basemen and 4 catchers. Seven of the players played for the Reds in the 19th century.
No. Rose is not eligible for the Reds Hall of Fame (or for the National Baseball Hall of Fame) because he is on baseball's ineligible list.
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