Hodges and Santo Lead Vote-Getters
March 2, 2005

COOPERSTOWN -- None of the 25 candidates eligible for election to the
National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Committee on Baseball Veterans
were named on the required 75% of ballots cast, it was announced
today. Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg, the Baseball Writers'
Association of America 2005 electees, will be enshrined during the
Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown on Sunday, July 31, beginning at
1:30 pm., as a part of Hall of Fame Weekend, at which time Peter
Gammons will be honored with the 2004 J.G. Taylor Spink Award and
Jerry Coleman with the 2005 Ford C. Frick Award.

The Veterans Committee featured 83 voting-eligible members. Eighty
members (96%) cast paper ballots during January and February, as 458
total votes were cast, an average of 5.7 votes per ballot. Sixty
votes were necessary for election and the top two recipients - Gil
Hodges and Ron Santo - each missed by eight votes. The final results,
in order of voting percentage (total votes, percentage):

Players' Ballot: Gil Hodges (52, 65.0%); Ron Santo (52, 65.0%); Tony
Oliva (45, 56.3%); Jim Kaat (43, 53.8%); Joe Torre (36, 45.0%); Maury
Wills (26, 32.5%); Vada Pinson (23, 28.8%); Luis Tiant (20, 25%);
Roger Maris (19, 23.8%); Marty Marion (16, 20.0%); Ken Boyer (15,
18.8%); Joe Gordon (14, 17.5%); Carl Mays (12, 15.0%); Minnie Minoso
(12, 15.0%); Dick Allen (12, 15.0%); Curt Flood (10, 12.5%); Wes
Ferrell (9, 11.3%); Mickey Lolich (9, 11.3%); Don Newcombe (8,
10.0%); Sparky Lyle (7, 8.8%); Elston Howard (6, 7.5%); Bobby Bonds
(4, 5.0%); Rocky Colavito (4, 5.0%); Thurman Munson (2, 2.5%); Smoky
Joe Wood (2, 2.5%).