MLB Hall of Famers have been born all throughout the United States. But not all states have been represented by the 342 inductees. Only 40 of the 50 states have produced Hall of Famers including the Dominican Republic and eight other countries. In honor of the newest inductees who will be enshrined in Cooperstown today, here’s the states who produced the most Hall of Famers.
5 States With the Most MLB Hall of Famers
Ohio, 19
Earliest Inductee: Ban Johnson & Cy Young (1937)
Most Recent Inductee: Barry Larkin (2012)
Ohio natives have a vital place in baseball’s history. Cincinnati and Cleveland have both franchises for over a century with a great group of Hall of Famers from the state. The most winningest pitcher to perhaps one best third baseman to play the game come from this state. The first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, helped restore confidence in the game following the Black Sox Scandal.
Ohio Hall of Famers:
George Sisler, Buck Ewing, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Ed Delahanty, Roger Bresnahan, Elmer Flick, Miller Huggins, Branch Rickey, Jesse Haines, Reuben Marquad, Walter Alston, Rollie Fingers, Mike Schmidt, Phil Niekro, Sol White, Ray Brown
Illinois, 23
Earliest Inductee: Charles Comiskey & Al Spalding (1939)
Most Recent Inductee: Jim Thome (2018)
Illinois has an unique group of Hall of Famers. There’s 12 players, six executives, four umpires and a manager. Some of the greatest Illinois executives are from this state too. Most notably Charles Comiskey and Bill Veeck who both owned the Chicago White Sox. Kirby Puckett became the fourth baseball player to record 1,000 hits in his first five full years in the majors during the 20th century. He became the second to record 2,000 hits during his first ten years.
Other Illinois Hall of Famers:
Joe McGinnity, Ed Barrow, Ray Schalk, Red Duffing, Lou Boudreau, Will Harridge, Billy Evans, Jocko Conlan, Jim Bottomely, Robin Roberts, Freddie Lidstrom, Warren Giles, Red Schoendienst, Al Barlick, Bill Veeck, Robin Yount, Kirby Puckett, Rickey Henderson, Whitey Herzog, Hank O’Day
Pennslyvania, 25
Earliest Inductee: Christy Mathewson & Honus Wagner (1936)
Most Recent Inductee: Mike Mussina (2019)
The Keystone State has produced two members of the first ever Hall of Fame class. Mathewson ranks in the all-time top 10 in several key pitching categories (wins, shutouts, earned run average). Wagner won his eighth and final batting title in 1911, a National League record that remains unbroken to this day. Pennslyvania is the home state of the only female inductee, Effa Manley, co-owner of the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues.
Other Pennslyvania Hall of Famers:
Hughie Jennings, Ed Walsh, Rube Waddell, Eddie Plank, Herb Pennock, Bobby Wallace, Joe McCarthy, Bill McKechine, John Ward, Stan Musial, Steve Coveleski, Roy Campanella, Hack Wilson, Reggie Jackson, Tommy Lasorda, Nellie Fox, Nestor Chylak, Bruce Sutter, Cum Posey, Effa Manley, Mika Piazza, Ken Griffey Jr.
California, 26
Earliest Inductee: Frank Chance (1946)
Most Recent Inductee: Trevor Hoffman & Alan Trammell (2018)
Some of the greatest pure hitters in the game were born in California. From Ted Williams to Joe DiMaggio to Tony Gwynn who all hail from the Golden State. Williams remains the last player to hit .400 in a season whereas DiMaggio holds the record with a 56-game hitting streak. Gwynn won a National League record-tying eight Gold Gloves. Then, there’s Johnson, the most strikeouts thrown by a left-handed pitcher.
Other California Hall of Famers:
Ed Chance, Harry Heilmann, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Cronin, Ted Williams, Harry Hopper, Chick Hafey, Lefty Gomez, High Pockets Kelly, Bob Lemon, Duke Snider, Don Drysdale, Ernie Lombardi, Bobby Doerr, Tony Lazzeri, Tom Seaver, Eddie Murray, Gary Carter, Dennis Eckersley, Tony Gwynn, Joe Gordon, Doug Harvey, Pat Gillick, Randy Johnson
New York, 34
Earliest Inductee: John McGraw & George Wright (1937)
Most Recent Inductee: Marvin Miller (2020)
New York is crowned the state for producing MLB Hall of Famers in all. The Big Apple is home to several well-known Yankee including Lou Gehrig. However, the Empire State is more than a home to Yankee faithfuls. There’s a handful of Yankee rivals were also born here. Boston slugger Carl Yazstremski and Sandy Koufax are both New York natives.
Other New York Hall of Famers:
George Wright, John McGraw, Alexander Cartwright, Old Hoss Radbourn, Willie Keeler, Lou Gehrig, Eddie Collins, King Kelly, Jimmy Collins, Jim Brouthers, Johnny Evers, Frankie Frisch, Bill Klem, Hank Greenberg, Waite Hoyt, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Welch, Warren Spahn, Whitey Ford, Bucky Harris, Carl Yazstremski, Jim Palmer, Phil Rizzuto, William Hulbert, Bid McPhee, Walter O’Malley, Deacon White, Jacob Ruppert, Joe Torre, Craig Biggio, Edgar Martinez
Other states: Texas (17), Massachustets (15), Alabama/Indiana (12), Maryland (11)
Photo Credit: © Georgie Silvarole/New York State Team via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Players/managers/executies mentioned:
George Sisler, Buck Ewing, Ed Delahanty, Roger Bresnahan, Branch Rickey, Jesse Haines, Walter Alston, Rollie Fingers, Mike Schmidt, Phil Niekro, Cy Young, Barry Larkin, Al Spalding, Jim Thome, Robin Roberts, Robin Yount, Kirby Puckett, Rickey Henderson, Whitey Herzog, Hank O’Day, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, Mike Mussina, John Ward, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Hack Wilson, Reggie Jackson, Tommy Lasorda, Bruce Sutter, Mike Piazza, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Chance, Trevor Hoffman, Alan Trammell, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Cronin, Ted Williams, Lefty Gomez, Bob Lemon, Duke Snider, Don Drysdale, Ernie Lombardi, Bobby Doerr, Tony Lazzeri, Tom Seaver, Eddie Murray, Gary Carter, Dennis Eckersley, Tony Gwynn, Joe Gordon, Pat Gillick, Randy Johnson, John McGraw, Lou Gehrig, Eddie Collins, King Kelly, Jimmy Collins, Johnny Evers, Frankie Frisch, Hank Greenberg, Waite Hoyt, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Welch, Warren Spahn, Whitey Ford, Bucky Harris, Jim Palmer, Phil Rizzuto, Bid McPhee, Deacon White, Joe Torre, Craig Biggio, Edgar Martinez
