The Royals Hall of Fame voting process is designed to give electors including Royals fans the power and responsibility for discerning which careers are worthy of the ballclub’s highest honor - it is not a nomination system, instead all Royals Alumni that meet eligibility thresholds are placed on the ballot for electors to make their considered judgements.
To be eligible for the first time, Royals Alumni must have been active with the ballclub for at least three (3) seasons and accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate appearances or 300 innings pitched; managers must have led the Royals for at least the equivalent of three full seasons. Eligible Royals Alumni shall have ceased to be an active on-field member of the Royals (or for any other Major League organization) in the role for which they are being considered for at least three (3) calendar years preceding the election. The 2023 vote includes two first-time eligible Royals Alumni and four that return after receiving at least ten percent of the vote in 2021.
Royals Hall of Fame Voting (Regular Phase) - 2023 Rules and Guidelines for Eligibility
Royals Hall of Fame Voting (Regular Phase) shall be completed every other year with electors consisting of the following: (1) All living members of the Royals Hall of Fame (2) Select members of Royals Front Office Staff (3) Royals Associates with 15 years or more service (4) Select members of the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers of America (5) Select Kansas City media members (6) Royals Fans to be represented as three electors via on-line balloting (Fan Vote Distribution: three full votes for each of the top three vote getters).
To be eligible for the first-time Royals Alumni must have been active in the Major Leagues at some time during a period beginning twelve (12) years before and ending three (3) years or more prior to election. Eligible alumni that received a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the vote in the most recent prior election cycle remain on the ballot for up to five cycles. All eligible alumni must have been active with the Kansas City Royals for at least three (3) seasons and accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate appearances or 300 innings pitched; managers must have been led the Royals for at least the equivalent of three full seasons. Those eligible shall have ceased to be an active on-field member of the Kansas City Royals (or for any other Major League Organization) in the role for which they are being considered for at least three (3) calendar years preceding the election – but may be otherwise connected to the Royals or another Major League Organization.
Any eligible alumni receiving votes on seventy-five percent (75%) of the ballots cast will be deemed an elected Royals Hall of Fame member. To remain on the ballot for the next RHOF voting cycle, eligible alumni must receive a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the ballots cast. In odd-numbered years a separate Veterans Committee vote will consider the candidacy of non-player personnel and alumni who previously received Royals Hall of Fame Voting (Regular Phase) votes but are no longer eligible for election in that manner.