NASHVILLE — After a distinguished 22-year managerial career in which he led four different teams, captured three pennants and won a World Series title, Jim Leyland has now earned a place in Cooperstown.

Leyland was the sole candidate elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Contemporary Era Committee, which convened at the Winter Meetings in Nashville on Sunday and considered eight former managers, executives and umpires. Leyland easily cleared the 75% threshold to earn induction, appearing on 15 of the 16 ballots cast.

A three-time Manager of the Year selection, Leyland went 1,769-1,728 in his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers. His most memorable moments came with the Marlins, who he led to the 1997 World Series title after a dramatic seven-game series against the Cleveland Indians, and later he led the Detroit Tigers to a pair of American League pennants.

Leyland also led Team USA to the World Baseball Classic title in 2017, coming out of retirement to help the Americans to their first championship since the tournament’s creation. He is the only manager in history to win both a World Series and a World Baseball Classic.

Red Sox fans best remember Leyland for his involvement in the 2013 American League Championship Series, in which the Tigers had the Red Sox on the ropes late in Game 2 before David Ortiz swung the series with his famous game-tying grand slam.

Former Yankees and Rays manager Lou Piniella fell one vote short of induction (11 votes) and former National League president Bill White was right behind him with 10. The other five candidates, managers Cito Gaston and Davey Johnson, umpires Joe West and Ed Montague and executive Hank Peters, all received less than five votes.

Leyland will now stand on stage beside whichever players are voted in by the writers during next July’s induction ceremony in Cooperstown. The BBWAA vote will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23.