Ted Turner joins seven other baseball executives and managers for Hall of Fame vote

The National Baseball Hall of Fame released its ballot Monday for the contemporary era committee covering managers, executives, and umpires. The list includes Ted Turner, the late owner of the Atlanta Braves, along with seven other men. The committee will convene on December 6 during the winter meetings in San Diego.

Seven other candidates appear on the ballot. Retired managers Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, and Lou Piniella are all included. The list also features former general managers Sandy Alderson and Brian Sabean. Bill White, a former player, broadcaster, and National League President, rounds out the group of eight.

Turner, who died in May at age 87, purchased the Braves in 1976 and led the franchise until 1996. That year, his Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner. The Braves won the 1995 World Series under his ownership. Turner also built WTBS into a superstation with national reach, changing how television networks distributed content.

The other candidates have extensive managerial and executive records. Dusty Baker, 77, managed for 26 seasons and won the 2022 World Series with Houston. Bruce Bochy, 71, won four World Series titles as a manager. Joe Maddon, 72, guided the Chicago Cubs to a 2016 championship. Lou Piniella, 83, won a title with the Cincinnati Reds in 1990.

Alderson, who turns 79 on November 22, served as general manager for Oakland, the San Diego Padres, and the New York Mets. Sabean, 70, spent his entire executive career with the San Francisco Giants, winning three World Series as general manager. White, 92, played in the majors from 1956 to 1969 and later served as NL president from 1989 to 1994.

Sixteen voters will cast ballots, though their identities will not be public until closer to the meeting date. A candidate needs 75% of the vote to be elected. Those chosen will be inducted on July 25. This ceremony will also feature players selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose ballot is scheduled for release on January 19.

Eligibility rules require managers and umpires to have 10 major league seasons and be retired for five years, unless they are at least 65. Executives must be retired for five years, with an exception for active executives aged 70 or older. Candidates who receive fewer than five of the 16 votes are dropped from the next ballot for that committee.

The contemporary era committee meets every three years. The next meeting for this specific group is not scheduled until after the contemporary players committee meets in December 2028. The classic baseball era committee will meet in December 2027.