Hall of Fame names 3 early-era inductees

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NASHVILLE, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Jacob Ruppert, New York Yankees owner in the early 20th century, is among three men selected for induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame by a special committee.

Ruppert, the Yankees' owner from 1915-39; umpire Hank O'Day, a member of the umpiring crew for the first World Series;, and Deacon White, who played in the 19th century, received enough votes from the pre-integration era committee for selection to the Hall of Fame.

The committee considered a series of team executives, umpires and players from baseball's earliest days through 1946. A person must be on 12 of the 16 committee members' ballots for induction.

Ruppert is perhaps best known for buying Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox before the 1920 season and building Yankee Stadium in 1923. The Yankees won 10 American League pennants and seven World Series while he was owner.

O'Day was an umpire for 10 World Series, including the first in 1903 in a National League umpiring career that covered 30 seasons. He is the 10th umpire to win induction into the Hall of Fame.

White, who started his career as a bare-handed catcher, played 20 seasons in the National Association, the National League and the Players League. He hit .303 over his career, collecting 2,067 hits in 1,560 games. He was his league's batting champion twice.

They will be inducted into the Hall of fame on July 28. The result of the Baseball Writers Association of America Hall of Fame vote is to be released Jan. 9.