The federation announced the creation of a Hall of Fame for French baseball. April 1st was the day announced for the announcement, no, it’s not an April Fools’ joke. This Hall of Fame will shine from 2024 for the federation’s 100th anniversary. This is good news for the men and women who have worked to develop this sport so discreetly in France. Some might think it’s late, but the first years will make up for the forgotten ones.
This is a tradition not all sports share. It has existed in French basketball since 2004, and in athletics since 2012 at the international level for the Olympics and World Championships. There are others, but not in football or international rugby.
Of course, in baseball, each country has its own, the most famous being those of the USA, created in 1936, and Japan, existing since 1959.
Japan Hall of Fame Museum
So, for France, how will this work?
First, its scope will be as follows:
The Hall of Fame aims to celebrate all those who have marked and continue to mark the history of French baseball, softball, and baseball5, whether they are players, coaches, officials, or personalities.
Those inducted, during their lifetime or posthumously, must have contributed exceptionally to the development of the sport or had a particularly remarkable career while demonstrating integrity both on and off the field.
A new class will be inducted each year into the Hall of Fame, and the work will be carried out by a Selection Committee comprising representatives from different bodies of officials, members of the Federal Memory Commission, representatives from specialized media and journalism, and eminent personalities.
French teams that have won an international title (World Cup/European Championship) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame after a 10-year period.
The results of the vote are traditionally proclaimed by the President of the Selection Committee during the General Assembly of the FFBS.
This Hall of Fame may see changes in its operations in the coming years to make it as fair and popular as possible.
Unlike the Hall of Fame museums seen in the photos, France will not have a Baseball Museum at this time, even though the idea has already been considered. This Hall of Fame will be virtual for the time being.
