The Historical Overview Committee of the Baseball Writers' Association of America selected the 10 finalists from a list of all eligible players, those whose careers spanned at least 10 Major League seasons and started in 1942 or earlier. The 10 finalists will be considered for election to the Hall of Fame by a 12-member voting committee, comprised of Hall of Famers, historians and media members.

Any candidate receiving 75% of the vote from the 12-member committee will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, to be held Sunday, July 26, in Cooperstown.

The 10 former players whose careers began in 1942 or earlier are: Bill Dahlen, Wes Ferrell, Joe Gordon, Sherry Magee, Carl Mays, Allie Reynolds, Vern Stephens, Mickey Vernon, Bucky Walters and Deacon White.

The 12 members who will serve as the voting committee for pre-1943 players will be announced soon. The committee to consider players whose careers began in 1942 or earlier meets every five years, beginning in 2008 for election in 2009, and following this election, will consider players from this category again in 2013 for election in 2014.

Additionally, the Museum will soon announce the 10 finalists for a second ballot of players to be considered by the Veterans Committee, those whose careers began in 1943 or later. Hall of Fame members will serve as the voting committee for this ballot, with results also to be announced Dec. 8. Any player who receives 75% of the ballots cast from this committee will earn election to the Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of Induction 2009.

The final pre-1943 ballot was developed by a Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) appointed Historical Overview Committee, comprised of 11 veteran members: Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune); Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun); Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch); Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau); Moss Klein (formerly Newark Star-Ledger); Bill Madden (New York Daily News); Ken Nigro, (formerly Baltimore Sun); Jack O'Connell (MLB.com); Nick Peters (Sacramento Bee); Tracy Ringolsby (Rocky Mountain News); and Mark Whicker (Orange County Register).

The 10 finalists for the pre-1943 ballot:

Dahlen was a National League shortstop with Chicago, Brooklyn, New York and Boston from 1891-1911. He had a .272 average, scored 100-or-more runs six times and stole 547 bases.

Ferrell was 193-128 over a 15-year career with the Indians, Red Sox, Senators, Yankees, Dodgers and Braves from 1927-41. He led the American League in wins in 1935 with 25 and finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting that year. He hit 38 career homers - a record for pitchers - and had a .280 career batting average.

Gordon played 11 seasons as a second baseman with the Yankees and Indians from 1938-43 and 1946-50, winning the American League MVP award in 1942. Gordon finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting four other times and was named to nine All-Star teams. He played in six World Series, winning five times.

Magee played from 1904-1919 with the Phillies, Braves and Reds. He led the NL in RBI four times.

Mays was 207-126 from 1915-29 for the Red Sox, Yankees, Reds and Giants. He won 20-plus games five times and ranks 62nd all-time with a .622 winning percentage. He was 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA over the course of four World Series, two of which Mays' teams won.

Reynolds was 182-107 over 13 years from 1942-54 with the Indians and Yankees, with six All-Star team selections. He led his teams to six World Series titles, going 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA. His regular-season winning percentage (.630) ranks 52nd all-time.

Stephens played 15 seasons from 1941-55 with the Browns, Red Sox, White Sox and Orioles. He was an eight-time All-Star selection who finished in the top five of the AL MVP voting six times. He led the AL in RBI three times and led the Browns to their only American League pennant in 1944.

Vernon played 21 seasons from 1939-43 and 1946-60 with the Senators, Indians, Red Sox, Braves and Pirates. He was named to seven All-Star teams, finished in the top five of the AL MVP voting three times and won two American League batting titles.

Walters was 198-160 for 16 years from 1934-48 and 1950 for the Phillies, Reds and Braves. He was 4-3 with a 2.79 ERA in two World Series for the Reds, helping Cincinnati win in 1940. He won the 1939 NL MVP award en route to the Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He went on to lead the NL in wins in 1940 and 1944.

White played 20 seasons (1871-1890) for teams in the National Association, National League and Players League. He led the league in batting twice en route to a .312 career average and 2,066 hits.

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