The BBWAA was authorized to elect players active in 1980 or later but not after 1994 (final game, 1980 to 1994). The ballot comprised 30 candidates, 16 returning from the 1999 ballot, where they received at least 5% support, and 14 on the ballot for the first time (†), chosen by a screening committee from players who last appeared in 1994. All 10-year members of the BBWAA were eligible to participate by voting for as many as 10 candidates; any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots returned would be honored with induction to the Hall.