The IBWAA sees the Hall of Fame’s BBWAA 682-word voting change statement and raises it this:

As was the case since its inception July 4, 2009, there is no 10-year waiting period for new members to vote in IBWAA elections. It’s a digital organization. New members may vote in the next election following their joining, and are not only being allowed but encouraged to join and vote right up until balloting deadlines. No stamps or fax machines are employed. Just click send.

IBWAA members may be card-carrying or not, with both paper and digital cards being available.

None of this for the IBWAA: “…potential Hall of Fame voters, all of whom must be 10-year BBWAA members, must hold an active BBWAA card or have held active status within the last 10 years. BBWAA members previously holding Hall of Fame voting privileges who are no longer active in the game and are more than 10 years removed from active status will have the opportunity for annual reinstatement, based on their coverage of the game in the preceding year.”

Ten years away from the game? Please. If you write regularly about baseball on the Internet you qualify for IBWAA membership and voting privileges; if you don’t, you don’t. No reinstatement is ever required.

The IBWAA is comprised of 385 members, including prominent national figures and college students, working in major and minor league towns across America and on several continents.

IBWAA season award balloting runs from September 1-30 of each year, with results being announced in early November. The IBWAA Hall of Fame election takes place in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

And remember, glove conquers all.