<P> Blyleven, Gillick, Niekro, DeWitt, Hughes, Hirdt, Morris, Smith and T.R. Sullivan previously served on the committee which selected the 2013 inductees . For the second consecutive year, none of the candidates received enough votes for election; it marked the third consecutive year--and the fifth time in seven years--in which no former players were chosen by the Hall's special committees . Speaking on MLB Network's Hot Stove immediately after it broadcast the announcement, Major League Baseball's official historian John Thorn expressed surprise and disappointment at the results, noting that he had felt there were three particularly strong candidates (prior to the announcement, he had commented favorably on the candidacies of Doc Adams and Harry Stovey); he speculated that the number of good candidates may have deadlocked the voting once again, and suggested that the Hall may need to amend the voting process in the future . </P> <P> At the time of the election, figures from this era were scheduled to be considered prior to the 2019 inductions . However, in July 2016, the Hall announced changes to its era - based committee system, replacing the three then - current committees with four new voting bodies . The Pre-Integration Era body was replaced by the newly created Early Baseball committee . The new committee will consider figures whose greatest contributions occurred before 1950 (a slightly broader time frame from its predecessor), but will not hold its first meeting until 2020 as part of the 2021 election process . Most significantly, this committee will meet only once a decade, specifically in years ending in 0 . </P> <P> The candidates for election were: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Candidate </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> Votes </Th> <Th> Percent </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Adams, Doc Doc Adams </Th> <Td> Pioneer </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 62.5% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Dahlen, Bill Bill Dahlen </Th> <Td> Player </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Stovey, Harry Harry Stovey </Th> <Td> Player </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 50% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Breadon, Sam Sam Breadon </Th> <Td> Executive </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Ferrell, Wes Wes Ferrell </Th> <Td> Player </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Herrmann, August August Herrmann </Th> <Td> Executive </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Marion, Marty Marty Marion </Th> <Td> Player </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> McCormick, Frank Frank McCormick </Th> <Td> Player </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> von der Ahe, Chris Chris von der Ahe </Th> <Td> Executive </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Walters, Bucky Bucky Walters </Th> <Td> Player </Td> <Td> <4 </Td> <Td> <25% </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How long can a player stay on the hall of fame ballot