JUST IN: Former Detroit Tigers Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell get good news from Hall of Fame

Former Detroit Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker and shortstop Alan Trammell are two of the best to ever play their positions, yet for one reason or another, neither player has been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

But there is still hope that both end up getting into the HOF before all is said and done.

According to Tony Paul of The Detroit News, the Baseball Hall of Fame has confirmed to him that both Trammell and Whitaker are eligible for the Modern Day ballot, which will be released in November.

Have it confirmed from Baseball Hall of Fame. Both Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker are eligible for Modern Day ballot, which comes out in Nov.

— Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) October 24, 2017

From the National Baseball Hall of Fame website:

The Eras Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, consider retired Major League Baseball players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized in one of three eras.

MODERN BASEBALL (1970-1987)

Rules for Election for Managers, Umpires, Executives and Players for Modern Baseball Candidates to the National Baseball Hall of Fame

Name: The Modern Baseball Committee (“The Committee”) shall refer to the electorate that considers retired Major League Baseball players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized from the 1970-1987 era.

Membership: The Modern Baseball Committee shall consist of 16 members, comprised of members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall act as the non-voting chairman of the committee and shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee.

Method of Appointment: The Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors shall appoint the Committee.

Term – Each appointee is to serve for a renewable term, with the Committee scheduled to meet on a cycle of twice every five years.

Time and Place of Election – Beginning in 2017, an election for Modern Baseball Era candidates shall be held twice every five years at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. A quorum will consist of three-fourths of the total membership of the committee. Proxies are permitted in emergency situations only. In the absence of a quorum, a conference call with absent committee members will be permitted.

Trammell played 20 seasons with the Tigers, posting a career batting average of .285 while hitting 185 home runs and collecting 1,003 RBIs. During his career, he was named to six All-Star teams and he won four Gold Glove awards.

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Whitaker played 19 seasons in Detroit. During that time, he hit .276 with 244 home runs and 1,084 RBIs. He was named the American League Rookie of the Year following the 1978 season, was named to five All-Star teams, and won three Gold Glove awards.

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There is little question amongst Tigers fans that Trammell and Whitaker are more than deserving to get into the Hall of Fame.

Their wait could finally be over.