Where can I find the Hall of Fame's "Addie Joss Rule"?

[paul]

I'm old enough to remember when Addie Joss was elected to the Hall of Fame. My fuzzy recollection is that the Hall of Fame passed a rule to facilitate his election that allows players who died or became seriously injured before their 10th year of service to be elected. Joss died after 9 years and was quickly elected under this rule.

I've been trying to find this rule to confirm my suspicion that 19th Century star Dave Orr is eligible. Orr played 9 years then suffered a career ending stroke. I've searched the Hall of Fame's website and can't find the Addie Joss rule anywhere. Here are the basic rules for election: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-fam...es/bbwaa-rules. And here is the Hall of Fame's list of historical changes made to the election rules: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-fam...-rules-history. There's no mention of the Addie Joss rule on either page. I also found no mention of the Addie Joss rule in the Eras Committees rules for election: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-fam...era-committees.

Does anyone know where I can find this rule? If it doesn't exist, and isn't even found in the Hall of Fame's list of historical rules changes, how did Joss get elected? Thanks.

[theshowandme]

I pasted your post word-for-word into ChatGPT

This is what it gave me back...

1. The “Addie Joss Rule” isn’t in writing
The 10-year minimum was in effect from the beginning (1936).
Joss only had 9 years.
Despite that, the BBWAA included him on the ballot anyway in the 1930s–40s (he actually received votes in multiple elections).
In 1977, the Veterans Committee elected him formally.

So: there was never a codified “rule” to waive the 10-year minimum for players who died or were injured early. The BBWAA just bent their own ballot rules for Joss, and the Veterans Committee later confirmed his place.

2. How Joss slipped through
At the time, the Hall and the BBWAA were still figuring out procedures.
Writers regarded Joss as exceptional: an elite pitcher, beloved figure, who had his career unfairly cut short.

That sentiment overrode the technical 10-year minimum.

Later committees never extended that exception to anyone else (e.g., Tony Conigliaro, Ross Youngs, or Dave Orr).

3. Dave Orr’s situation
Orr had about 7½ seasons before his stroke.
Under today’s rules (the Era Committees you quoted), he’s not eligible as a player — the 10-year service rule blocks him.

The only way he could be considered is if the Hall’s Historical Overview Committee classified him differently (e.g., as a pioneer/contributor rather than strictly as a player). That’s unlikely, but technically possible.

4. Why people think there’s a rule

Writers at the time often described Joss as a “special case” and later generations interpreted that as if a rule had been written.

But the Hall of Fame’s own published rule change history (the link you shared) confirms: no permanent rule was ever created. It was a one-off accommodation.

Bottom line:
The “Addie Joss Rule” was never an official Hall of Fame rule. It was a one-time exception created by the BBWAA and later ratified by the Veterans Committee. Under the rules you pasted, Dave Orr is not eligible as a player, unless the Hall deliberately chooses to treat him the way they treated Joss.

[paul]

Thank you very much. It's amazing that the HOF can just ignore its own rules. It's also amazing that AI had this information.

I had always thought Dave Orr played 9 years, but you're right it was only 7 1/2. With that little time of service, I guess he wouldn't be elected even if there was a formal Addie Joss rule.

[Steve D]

If any player has been affected by the 10 Year Rule, it's R.L. Caruthers.

He pitched 9 years in the majors (1884-1892), going 218-99, with a 2.83 ERA and 59.5 WAR; twice winning 40 games in a season. IIRC, Caruthers and Roger Clemens, are the only non-active pitchers with at least 100 more wins than losses, who are not in the hall of fame. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw also currently have at least 100 more wins than losses, although Verlander is dangerously close to losing the distinction.

Caruthers pitched in 2,828 2/3 innings, over 340 games; that is an incredible 8 1/3 innings pitched per game; and he started only 310 of those games. He had more decisions (317), than games started (310).

The thing is, he played a 10th season (1893); he just did not pitch that year. So he meets the criteria; he played in each of 10 different seasons.

Steve

[molenick]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Later committees never extended that exception to anyone else (e.g., Tony Conigliaro, Ross Youngs, or Dave Orr).

I think ChatGPT did a pretty good job of summing up a confusing situation. My only quibble is that Ross Youngs was elected to the HOF in 1972 (before Joss) and had exactly 10 years of service time (although in one year he only played in seven games). So later committees couldn't "extend that exception" because he was already in. And there was no need for an exception anyway since he had 10 years of service.

[paul]

Caruthers is definitely eligible, and in my opinion he belongs.

[darwinbulldog]

#JusticeForParisianBob

[jackwesq]

"It was a one-time exception created by the BBWAA and later ratified by the Veterans Committee."

I'm not sure that is correct.

Here on the Hall of Fame's website it says ...

Joss tragically died on April 14, 1911 – just two days after his 31st birthday – following a bout with tubercular meningitis. Though he only pitched nine big league seasons, the Hall of Fame Board of Directors passed a special resolution in 1977 allowing Joss to be considered despite the Hall of Fame rule that requires 10 seasons for election consideration.

[molenick]

That's a good point. The BBWAA wouldn't have been involved because they don't vote in the Veteran's Committee elections. It would just be the Hall itself that would need to pass a resolution.

[theshowandme]

Always trust but verify with AI

[jingram058]

Well, I don't care if Addie Joss played only 9 years. Look what he did. He didn't ask to die. And I think Thurman Munson should be as well. I'm sure you can come up with some stat or rule as to why they both shouldn't be, but I don't care. Meaningless to me.

[G1911]

The story I always heard is that no rule was made for him - it was just interpreted for him. He started spring training/pre-season games in 10 seasons, so they decided that counted as 10 seasons in the majors.

[Fred]

I think the knock on Caruthers is that 6 of the 10 years was spent in the AA. I think he deserves enshrinement.

The Hall of fame is really missing out on the historical part of the game by not including pioneer players like Ross Barnes (9 years), for example.

[GaryPassamonte]

As Leon would say, every thread deserves a card. Barnes is the poster child for inclusion of pioneer players in the HOF.