No players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame for first time since 1960

Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The National Baseball Hall of Fame will not have a new group of electees in 2021, marking the first time since 1960 that no players were enshrined by writers or the veterans committee.

The Baseball Writers' Association of America announced Tuesday night that none of the players on the 2021 ballot reached the 75% threshold needed for enshrinement in Cooperstown.

This is the first time since 2013 that the BBWAA didn't elect anyone into the Hall of Fame. Three players still gained entry into Cooperstown in 2013 through the Hall of Fame's veterans committee.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic postponing the Era Committee elections until next winter, there will be no Class of 2021.

The leading vote-getter was pitcher Curt Schilling, who was named on 71.1% of the ballots. He was 16 votes shy of the minimum required for selection. He was followed by home run king Barry Bonds (61.8%) and pitcher Roger Clemens (61.6%) in the voting.

All three former stars were in their ninth year of eligibility, leaving them one more opportunity next winter. Players have 10 chances at enshrinement through the BBWAA voting process before moving on to consideration by one of the Hall of Fame's era-based veteran committees.

Despite the lack of a 2021 class, there will still be an induction ceremony this year. Last year's selectees will be honored in July after the pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 ceremony.

That group includes players Derek Jeter, Larry Walker and Ted Simmons, along with labor leader Marvin Miller.