[Jaxter]

"..the rules for the Hall's BBWAA ballot state that players must have been retired for at least five years but no more than 20 to be eligible for election."

Then how did Bill Mazeroski get inducted in 2001 when he retired in 1972?

[Charles Henrickson]

Then how did Bill Mazeroski get inducted in 2001 when he retired in 1972?

Veterans' Committee selection.

While a marginal selection, to be sure, Maz was one of the greatest defensive 2b of all time, and he had the single greatest moment in the history of baseball: his 9th-inning home run in Game 7 to win the 1960 Series against the heavily-favored and dominant Yankees.