27
2009
My Hall Of Fame Ballot – Sorry Big Mac!
An article by 
On Friday, the new Hall of Fame Ballot was released for the 2010 class. The most notable newcomers include:
2B Roberto Alomar - An all-around threat in a 17-season career that included World Series championship years with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and ’93. Alomar won 10 Gold Glove Awards for fielding and was a career .300 hitter with 2,724 hits, combining power (210 home runs) and speed (474 stolen bases). Alomar, part of a major-league family (father Sandy and brother Sandy Jr.), was the MVP of the American League Championship Series in 1992 and the All-Star Game in 1998.
SS Barry Larkin – The National League MVP in 1995, spent his 19-season career with the Cincinnati Reds and won a World Series ring in 1990. A .295 hitter with 2,340 hits, including 198 home runs, Larkin won three Gold Gloves and was named to 12 All-Star teams.
1B Fred McGriff – Led the AL in home runs in 1989 for Toronto and the NL in 1992 for San Diego and finished with a career total of 493, tied with Lou Gehrig for 26th place all-time. McGriff, a .284 career hitter with 2,490 hits and 1,550 RBI, was the All-Star Game MVP in 1994 and batted .303 with 37 RBI in 50 post-season games winning a ring with the Atlanta Braves in 1995.
DH Edgar Martinez – For whom the AL Designated Hitter Award is now named, won batting titles in 1992 and 1995 with the Seattle Mariners, his only club over 18 seasons. Martinez compiled a career .312 average with 2,247 hits, 309 home runs among them. He drove in 1,261 runs and scored 1,219.
Other freshmen include pitchers Pat Hentgen, Kevin Appier, Mike Jackson and Shane Reynolds, and hitters Andres Galarraga, Todd Zeile, David Segui, Robin Ventura, Ellis Burks and Ray Lankford.
Players who carried over from last year’s ballot include pitchers Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris and Lee Smith, plus hitters Andre Dawson, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Alan Trammell and Harold Baines.
Candidates may remain under consideration for up to 15 years provided they are named on at least five percent of the ballots cast.
According to the rules, those eligible to cast a ballot can vote for as many as ten players on one ballot. A player who who receives a vote on 75% of all ballots cast gains election to Cooperstown.
I read an interesting column by Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, who has decided to soften his stance and vote for Mark McGwire. I always felt that eventually McGwire would get in anyway, and I wonder if it could happen in 2010?
If I were one of those lucky enough to vote, my ballot would look like this.
1. Andre Dawson
2. Roberto Alomar
3. Barry Larkin
4. Edgar Martinez
5. Tim Raines
Just Missed – Bert Blyleven, Mark McGwire, Alan Trammell and Fred McGriff
Your thoughts?
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Phillies | 23 | 23 | .500 | 4.0 |
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Write Your Own Mets Post
Andre Dawson
Bert Blyleven
Roberto Alomar
Alomar — spitting on Hirschbeck removed — was an outstanding 2b’man — among the best and most dominant of his time.
Dawson and Blyleven have the stats to support their induction IMO. Dawson was among the best OF’ers in his generation and Blyleven was just a solid, consistent pitcher who — if he pitched in NY or CA — would be a no-brainer.
I don’t see any way that McGwire gets in this time around …. it will be years before that happens.
The guys on your ballot will all get in at some point, but this year I think it will be Andre Dwason and Roberto Alomar.
I’d vote in this order:
Bert Blyleven
Andre Dawson
Roberto Alomar
Edgar Martinez
Barry Larkin
Blyleven should have been in a long time ago. He pitched on so many mediocre teams and still won 287 games. Had he played even half of his career with above average teams, he’d have won 300 games. He also finished with 3,701 strikeouts and an astounding 60 shutouts. Some pitchers nowadays might have a tough time getting 60 complete games in their careers, let alone 60 shutouts. His teams only made the playoffs three times (1970 Twins, 1979 Pirates, 1987 Twins), but he stepped it up every time he was on the big stage, going 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA in his playoff career, helping him earn two World Series rings.
Dawson was a five-tool player before the term was in vogue. With his 438 HR and 314 SB, he is one of only three players with at least 400 HR and 300 SB. The other two are Willie Mays and Barry Bonds. He was a rightfielder whose arm was feared by opposing baserunners. There was nothing he couldn’t do on the baseball field. Unfortunately, that included staying healthy, as his knees took a beating on Montreal’s artificial turf.
Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin were two of the best middle infielders in the 90s. When you think of the most complete middle infielders for the entire decade, their names are right at the top of the list. They both combined stellar defense with outstanding hitting and excellent speed. If Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith got in for being the best middle infielders of the 80s, then Alomar and Larkin should get in for being the best middle infielders of the 90s. Alomar was a far better overall offensive player than Sandberg was and Larkin also had a bigger over offensively over Smith. If not for Smith winning all those Gold Gloves late in his career, Larkin would surely have won more than three.
Edgar Martinez is the tough one because he was primarily a DH. Still, it’s hard to overlook his .312 career batting average. Being able to maintain that high of a batting average over the length of a career is quite impressive. Combine that with the fact that his high batting average was not based on singles alone (514 doubles and 309 HR) and that he didn’t become an everyday player until he was 27 makes his career stats look more impressive.
I’m thinking the voters will choose Dawson and maybe Blyleven of the holdovers. Of the first-timers, the best chance belongs to Alomar, but if he doesn’t get in, it wouldn’t shock me.
You sold me on Blyleven Ed. After reviewing his career stats again, he does appear to be better than I first thought.
It really does bother me that mark mcgwire is not in and there is a chance he could never get in. The man never went against the rules. He might have done drugs but he never tested positive for any illegal drugs. When one drug was banned he stopped and and moved on to the next. The game has changed a lot and that was one thing that has changed.
Now, you have a guy like a-rod. Honestly, there is no doubt he will be a first ballot hall of fame member. He did use drugs and he did test positive but because he did admit and he apologized, he will be forgiven. I’m sorry, but many guys that have votes in the hall are rediculous. They don’t deserve it and I don’t like the system at all. They need to pick bettere people and this even goes for the mvp voting as well. Its getting stupid and guys are going to get robbed, plain and simple
I’m not convinced Mark McGwire would get in even without the cloud of steroids over his head. All he did was one thing, hit home runs. His career batting average was only .263. He finished his career with only 1,626 hits. He only scored 1,167 runs, despite the fact that he hit 583 HR. That means that for his entire career, he only scored 584 runs when he didn’t drive himself in. Also, he never hit 30 doubles in a season. His career high was 28 in 1987 (his rookie season). Take away his home runs and his career would not even be average; it would be poor.
Compare McGwire with McGriff. McGwire only hit 90 more HRs. McGriff outhit hit Big Mac .284 to .263. He also had 864 more hits, 189 more doubles, scored 182 more runs and despite McGwire hitting more home runs, McGriff had 136 more RBI.
There’s no way McGwire gets in before McGriff and I don’t think McGriff will get in on the first ballot. He’s like Jim Rice, a great player who was on the bubble with too many voters. It’ll take a weak Hall of Fame class to get the Crime Dog in. It’ll probably take the Veterans Committee to get McGwire in.
He had an outstanding .394 OBP which means he rarely made an out. McGwire deserves entrance into that hall. I’m not so sure Sosa does though. As a hitter is say definitely not, but Sammy was a great right fielder, so that makes me hesitate.
I believe the mark of a HOFer is dominance in the era that they played.
If I could choose up to 10, here’s my ballot, in order:
1. Andre Dawson: the Hawk was a subperb OF, and a feared hitter.
2. Tim Raines: If it wasn’t for Rickey Henderson, he would be a shoe in. The best leadoff hitter of his era (in the NL).
3. Lee Smith: Hoyt Wilhelm, Sparky Lyle, and Goose Gossage created the role of the closer…Lee Smith and Dan Quisenberry (who should be in too) perfected it for the micro managers of todays game.
4. Alan Tramell: one of the 1st offensive SS. May have paved the way for Cal Ripken not being another run of the mill 1st or 3rd baseman.
5. Robby Alomar: Most dominant 2B of his era…Period.
6. Barry Larkin: If it wasn’t for the AL trifecta of A-Rod, Jeter, and Nomar coming up in the mid 90′s, he would be a shoe in.
7. Dale Murphy: Was always a feared hitter in the 80′s, good OFer. One of the guys you never wanted to see bat against your team, unless you paid good money to see the Braves come to town…nuff said.
On The Cusp….
Fred McGriff: Ya know what, he should be #8 on my list, he was feared enough, and a good 1B.
Bert Blyleven: Great #’s on what many call bad teams. Altough he has 2 WS rings. Great shutout figures in an era where complete games were still common. Was never the dominant guy of his era. Was never really a feared pitcher.
Jack Morris: The Anti-Blyleven…always considered a winner, has 4 rings. ERA never great, but always came through in the clutch. Didn’t stick around as long as Bert. Was always looked to as an ace, even when he wasn’t.
Just can’t do it….
Don Mattingly: If only the back…….
Edgar Martinez: Would want him on my team, but he’s a DH….!!!!!