With the release of the 2026 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot earlier this week, we've officially entered Cooperstown deliberation season.

There are now two ballots up for consideration. While the writers' process tends to soak up most of the attention, the contemporary baseball era committee ballot -- announced Nov. 3 -- is more urgent and intriguing. The results will be determined by a yet-to-be-named committee just before the upcoming winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, and announced on Dec. 7.

Though the writers have until the end of the year to determine their choices for the primary ballot, the era committee process will be upon us not long after the coming Thanksgiving holiday. Each of the Hall's era committees meet every three years, and this year, the contemporary era committee

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