2014 HALL OF FAME

This year's HOF class should be one of the most interesting in years. The writers have their work cut out for them according to the rules.

Below was taken from the official HOF website. I have highlighted some of the issues with the HOF (particularly with this year's) balloting system.

Method of Election:
* (1) received a vote on a minimum of five percent (5%) of the ballots cast in the preceding election or (2) are eligible for the first time and are nominated by any two of the six members of the BBWAA Screening Committee.

*Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as ten (10) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted.

* Any candidate receiving votes on seventy-five percent (75%) of the ballots cast shall be elected to membership in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

*Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

Remember, last year they were unable to add a player because 75% of the 600 writers were not able to agree on one player. More than a few writers say they do not even consider first timers. Also, because many of the candidates played during the steroid era, the writers have publicly made comments about punishing them.

Candidate MLB seasons Yrs on BBWAA ballot
Moises Alou 1990, 1992-98, 2000-08 1st
Jeff Bagwell 1991-2005 4th
Armando Benitez 1994-2008 1st
Craig Biggio 1988-2007 2nd
Barry Bonds 1986-2007 2nd
Sean Casey 1997-2008 1st
Roger Clemens 1984-2007 2nd
Ray Durham 1995-2008 1st
Eric Gagne 1999-2008 1st
Tom Glavine 1987-2008 1st
Luis Gonzalez 1990-2008 1st
Jacque Jones 1999-2008 1st
Todd Jones 1993-2008 1st
Jeff Kent 1992-2008 1st
Paul Lo Duca 1998-2008 1st
Greg Maddux 1986-2008 1st
Edgar Martinez 1987-2004 5th
Don Mattingly 1982-1995 14th
Fred McGriff 1986-2004 5th
Mark McGwire 1986-2001 8th
Jack Morris 1977-1994 15th
Mike Mussina 1991-2008 1st
Hideo Nomo 1995-2005, 2008 1st
Rafael Palmeiro 1986-2005 4th
Mike Piazza 1992-2007 2nd
Tim Raines 1979-2002 7th
Kenny Rogers 1989-2008 1st
Curt Schilling 1988-2007 2nd
Richie Sexson 1997-2008 1st
Lee Smith 1980-1997 12th
J.T. Snow 1992-2006, 2008 1st
Sammy Sosa 1988-2005, 2007 2nd
Frank Thomas 1990-2008 1st
Mike Timlin 1991-2008 1st
Alan Trammell 1977-1996 13st
Larry Walker 1989-2005 4th

You pick your ballot (up to ten). Explain your reasoning.

 

Greg Maddux - no explaination needed
Barry Bonds - as much as I hate to say it, statistically he is the best player ever, and MLB needs to take the majority of the blame for the Steroid era. So only the best liars can go into the HOF? Bullshit, MLB. Bullshit. (PS Fuck Barry Bonds)
Roger Clemens (see above)
Mark McGuire (see above)
Sammy Sosa (see above)
Mike Piazza - best hitting catcher in the history of MLB
Hideo Nomo - first (significant) Japanese player in MLB

 

I agree with Piazza & Nomo, but if they let these guys in it's like they cheated and it doesn't matter?? I believe that Pete Rose should get in long before any of these fucking liars.

:lolup:

 

Ugh!!! He lied to Congress. Not that like this has never happened before, but still...

OH yeah, FUCK BARRY BONDS...

 

Are your "yes, but not this year" based on the votes you think they will get, or on your opinion that they deserve it but not yet?

 

P.S. - the integrity and character clause went out the door the day Ty Cobb got admitted.

 

Most overlooked - Tim Raines.

 

Exactly.

Yes.

Ok.

The reason for my question was brought up earlier by someone who said some writers wouldn't vote for a player in their first year of eligibility. What total fucking bullshit. Like you said, either they is or they isn't. (I take the liberty of using Southernese whenever I feels like it).

 

Jeff Bagwell 1991-2005 4th
Craig Biggio 1988-2007 2nd
Barry Bonds 1986-2007 2nd
Roger Clemens 1984-2007 2nd
Tom Glavine 1987-2008 1st
Jeff Kent 1992-2008 1st
Greg Maddux 1986-2008 1st
Edgar Martinez 1987-2004 5th
Mike Mussina 1991-2008 1st
Mike Piazza 1992-2007 2nd
Tim Raines 1979-2002 7th
Curt Schilling 1988-2007 2nd
Frank Thomas 1990-2008 1st
Alan Trammell 1977-1996 13st

Those guys should all be in, Edgar, Kent, Trammel, Mussina and Schilling are the on the fence guys, but the rest of them should all be in without question

 

Where do you separate 'early career' and 'thereafter'?

The dude was putting up serious OBP late in his career. Yeah, he lost his legs about age 32 but he was still a great leadoff guy because he could work a pitch count and he could flat out hit.

 

Sure. Palmeiro would probably be next on the list. Pete Rose should be on my list too.

All these rules and debates about who should and shouldn't get in are overdone, IMO. The best solution is the simplest one: the best players in MLB should be in the HOF. The world isn't perfect, people aren't perfect, and the Hall doesn't need to fabricate a false world where only good guys and hard-nosed motorcycle salesmen are allowed "the honor". Steroids wasn't much of a problem when it helped revitalize the game and brought in tons of revenue, but now MLB wants to use the players as a scapegoat and brush this thing under the carpet? It's judgmental and historically inaccurate. I don't like Bonds, Clemens, McGuire, Sosa, Palmeiro, Piazza, or weird little Pete Rose - but they defined their generation of baseball players. For better and for worse.

That's just my 2 cents. I know it's not a popular opinion, and I respect the thoughts of the other side, but if I had a real vote in the matter that is how I would approach it.

 

Umm.. Pete Rose wasn't little. Just saying.

Otherwise you present a rational picture. But then every record set by every juicer gets the same or worse asterisk treatment that Maris endures.

And I think we'd all benefit by the BBWAA capping HoF voting at age 80, so 1/3 of these guys simply go away.