31
2010
How My Hall Of Fame Ballot Would Have Looked
An article by 
There always seems to be a lot of controversy around this time each year over the Hall of Fame voting process. Most of the grief stems from the two-dozen or so undeserving writers who seemingly go out of their way each year to mock the institution with their unworthy ballots. Some of them go out of their way to thwart the inclusion of those players who deserve to be enshrined in Cooperstown, while others tarnish the grandeur of the Hall of Fame by their attempts to muddy it with votes for players who are blatantly unworthy of consideration.
Rather than just give you the few names I would have voted for if such an honor was ever bestowed on me, I wanted to take you through the steps I go through in making my decision. It’s not a complicated process mind you, it’s just a systematic series of phases I go through in narrowing down the 33 players on the original ballot to the three players I ultimately selected.
Phase One
Before I start to consider any players, I must first sharpen my machete and remove any names that make me want to gouge my eyes out. So right off the bat, I am obliterating Carlos Baerga, Lenny Harris, Al Leiter, Bret Boone, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, Kirk Rueter, Benito Santiago and B.J. Surhoff off of the ballot.
How did these players make it past the Hall of Fame screening committee anyway? The way I see it, any member from the BBWAA who votes for any of these players should be drawn and quartered or at the very least banned from ever casting another HOF ballot in their lifetime. Lets move on.
Phase Two
After the the first round of my screening process, I am left to choose up to ten worthy candidates from among the following 22 players. They include: Roberto Alomar, John Franco, John Olerud, Jeff Bagwell, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Kevin Brown, Juan Gonzalez, Marquis Grissom, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell and Larry Walker.
I now need to swap my machete for a scalpel and do some additional precision cutting, although this wont be as easy as the first round of blood-letting.
It’s now time to get rid of John Olerud, John Franco, Kevin Brown, Marquis Grissom, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, and Alan Trammell. These players all had nice careers, and it’s nice to see some of their names on the ballot, but lets face it, they are not Hall Of Famers either. I won’t have a problem if a few writers cast a wayward vote for any them, but realistically, none of these guys merit inclusion over the other 14 remaining players.
I know some of you will probably hate me for this, but I’m not voting for either Mark McGwire or Rafael Palmeiro and you know the reason why. Here is my rule on steroids. If they were caught using and in fact publicly apologized, then they admitted guilt so off with their heads. That said, I’m not going to penalize players based on innuendo and suspicion because the last time I checked, the United States still had a Constitution. So with that in mind, Jeff Bagwell, Fred McGriff and Juan Gonzalez still make the cut. I’m down to 12 players now.
Sorry Larry Walker, but I’m giving you the boot. You benefited far too much from a humidor-less Coors Field, and before and after your days in Colorado, you were nothing more than a mere mortal. You certainly have put up some gaudy numbers in your career, and for that I tip my cap to you, but please pack your bats and leave.
Phase Three
Now that most of my purging is done, I have a list of candidates that looks like this:
- Roberto Alomar
- Jeff Bagwell
- Harold Baines
- Bert Blyleven
- Juan Gonzalez
- Fred McGriff
- Jack Morris
- Dale Murphy
- Dave Parker
- Tim Raines
- Lee Smith
Here are the final selections on my Hall of Fame ballot.
Roberto Alomar – Although I didn’t particularly like him as a Met, his Hall of Fame credentials are indisputable. With over 2,500 hits, 1,000 walks, 1,500 runs scored and a .300 batting average, Alomar was a premier top of the order hitter playing at a premium position. His ten Gold Gloves only hint at what a great defensive second baseman he was, and his 13 All Star selections say a lot too. He finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting five times. Quite frankly, shame on the BBWAA for not electing him to the Hall last year. Alomar didn’t spit on the baseball writers, but they surely spit on him. Alomar absolutely gets my vote for the Hall of Fame.
Bert Blyleven – The more I look at Blyleven, the more impressed with him I become. He has 287 career wins, 70 shutouts, 3701 strikeouts, a 1.19 WHIP and a 3.31 ERA, and yet he’s been waiting to get in since 1998. This is a real head scratcher. It would be a travesty of justice if Jack Morris got into the Hall of Fame and Blyleven didn’t. Without a second thought, Blyleven gets my vote and Jack Morris will not.
Jeff Bagwell – Bags was one of the best all around players I have ever seen. He played the game hard and he played the game right, but more importantly his performance was unparalleled at the plate, on the basepaths and in the field. With over 1,500 RBIs and 1,500 runs scored Bagwell was a pure monster at the plate. He had eight seasons of 100+ RBIs and nine seasons of 100+ runs scored. Among his 2,300+ career hits were 449 home runs and 488 doubles which gave him a staggering .540 slugging percentage. His career .297 average is not too shabby, but when you add in his 1,400 walks it gives him an eye-popping .408 on-base percentage. This guy is a first ballot Hall of Famer and I’m proud to include him on my ballot.
Near Misses – I was very close to including Dave Parker, Tim Raines and Lee Smith on my ballot, but I couldn’t pull the trigger on them. I may feel differently about them next season, and I may even re-consider a couple of others I left off, but for now I’m very confident about the three players I chose. I believe they are worthy of enshrinement and I hope all three get in this year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 17 | .605 | - |
| Nationals | 25 | 17 | .595 | 0.5 |
| Marlins | 23 | 19 | .548 | 2.5 |
| Mets | 22 | 20 | .524 | 3.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 22 | .488 | 5.0 |
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I would have immediately replaced Alomar with Edgar Martinez. I still remember the spitting incident, you cannot disrespect the game like a child and get in the Hall, his off the field antics after his playing days were over still resound loudly with me. Happy New Year.
If you are gonna deny a man the HOF based on a spitting incident that he has since apologized to the ump for and the ump has accepted then Thank God you are not on the committee.
i can only imagine the things ty cobb did when he was around.
here’s a story from wikipedia (if you can believe it ):
For example, Cobb and umpire Billy Evans arranged to settle their in-game differences through fisticuffs, to be conducted under the grandstand after the game. Members of both teams were spectators, and broke up the scuffle after Cobb had knocked Evans down, pinned him, and began choking him.
I knew the Ty Cobb stuff would come out, I just don’t think he is worthy, so if you are a Robbie Alomar fan, thank God I am not on the committee.
At least you admit it’s personal for you and your not basing it on what is important his play on the field.
It’s really not personal, I am a big fan of the game and spitting at the umpire is done in Little League and the stuff after his playing days were disgraceful, if true. He was a great player, until he came to New York, if you are going to keep guys out because they were caught taking steroids, I can have my reasons also.
I see so you equate steroids with that? OK.
That says all I need to know.
I will agree with one thing you confirmed and agreed with. Thank God your not on the committee.
All of us have done something irrational in our lives that we wish we had never done. One incident should never define a person’s life and doesn’t even come close to cheating in my opinion.
The fact that MLB was complicit in the cheating doesn’t change my opinion one bit.
An entire volume of the baseball encyclopedia was vandalized forever and that can never be changed.
Dennis, if Hirschbeck himself has publicly forgiven Alomar, then no human being is ever able to judge him for that incident again. Not you, not me, not any HOF voter, not anyone.
Quotes from Mr. Hirschbeck: ”I sincerely hope the writers are able to look past that one incident. I certainly have. It’s long over with and a lot more good has come out of it than you can ever believe. If that was to cost Robbie the Hall of Fame, I would feel awful. When I was diagnosed with cancer awhile back, Robbie was one of the first people to call me to see how I was. I have to say if the spitting incident was the worst thing Robbie ever did, then he’s lived a real good life.”
i agree with you that ty cobb was ten times the player than alomar was, and also that spitting is gross, so i see your point. it looks awful on tape.
Alomar apologized, the ump accepted his apology & Alomar was suspended. His personal life outside of baseball right now has nothing to do with the numbers he produced in his career prior to joining the Mets. Alomar should have been a 1st ballot hall of famer.
does anyone think there will ever be a unanimous first ballot hall of famer.
i think greg maddux and randy johnson should be, but i could see some jerk who wants to make a name for himself leaving them off with some lame reason like, ‘he only was good because of his height’, or ‘he killed that bird, remember ?’
Never! There will always be a writer that will try and make a name for himself but not voting for the guy everyone else does. I personaly do not see how a responsible writer cannot vote for Maddux but he won’t get a unanimous vote.
Joe, good topic to write about. I’m sure the comments will fly for this one. My ballot looks like this:
Alomar, Blyleven, Larkin, Raines, McGwire, Edgar Martinez and Bagwell are locks for me. I’m on the fence about Palmeiro, Trammell and Fred McGriff.
I won’t go in-depth with the stats about all of them, but I’ll give my opinions on a couple of the issues surrounding some of my choices.
Steroids: entirely unethical and against federal law. I don’t condone it at all and have no issue with those who share your opinion. But at the time McGwire (and even Bonds)took them, baseball was ok with it. Blame Selig, not the players. I’m hesitant to single out steroid users of that era for their on-field superiority when it was so prevelant and evidently commonplace, as shown by the plethora of names in the Mitchell Report and the 100+ positive results leaked from the 2004 test last year. Many, many players apparently took steroids, yet only three have all-time records to show for it (including Sosa). There has to be some portion of superior talent involved there, not just the juice.
DH: The DH has been part of the game for nearly 40 years. It’s time to recognize it as such. That being said, Edgar Martinez was a pretty terrific fielder. His time out there was cut short due to injury, but that’s not something to hold against him. It gives him great leverage when considering other DHs like Baines didn’t know which end of the glove to put his hand in. Martinez was a great fielder, when he played out there.
I agree, great article Joe! Here are the players i would pick to be in the Hall.
1.) Jeff Bagwell
2.) Roberto Alomar
3.) Barry Larkin
4.) Mark McGwire
5.) and Edgar Martinez
I personally think that Barry Larkin, Jeff Bagwell, and Roberto Alomar will be this years class. I probably won’t be right about this, but thats what i think.
Brandon, I think this year is Alomar’s year. Unfortunately, based on recent voting history, I think Larkin is a few years away and Bagwell isn’t “sexy” enough to be a first ballot induction.
Baseball allows a DH so therefore I have no problem with a DH getting into the HOF.
For those that have admitted and/or proof exist that they did use steroids then I think they shouldn’t be in the HOF. Just my opinion. They cheated the game, their numbers most likely would not be the same if they didn’t use steroids. It’s also not fair to the players that didn’t take any kind of PED supplement.
No, Francis, I don’t think there ever will be. There’s always going to be a voter who won’t vote for someone because he’s not a perfect ballplayer. I look at some players that are in and can’t comprehend those who didn’t vote. How in the world was Rickey not unanimous? Some writers hold personal grudges (maybe Rickey denied him an interview), some refuse to vote for any player that played in the steroid era (which hurt Ripken and Gwynn’s percentages), and some hold some ridiculous standards. Last year it was reported that one writer defended his ballot with [paraphrase] “Hall of Famers don’t play poker in the locker room during a playoff game.” Ok, so maybe Rickey wasn’t a great teammate, but how does that negate his playing career? It shouldn’t, but to some, things like that will always be in the way.
Love the Mets.
Nice article and I cant argue with your logic or your opinions. I would go with those same three PLUS Barry Larkin. Larkin numbers may not seem so great compared to the others on the ballot but he put them up as a shortstop long before other great hitting shortstops came along. He was one of a kind in his era and that should be taken into account.
2013 first time eligibles include Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Piazza, Schilling. Wow.
Piazza will be a unanimous first ballot hall of famer. I cant wait. I was too young to remember Seaver, so this will be like my first Mets player to go in!!!!
Kevin, I don’t think Piazza will be unanimous. In fact, I’d bet against it. His throwing arm (which unfortunately will be lumped in his total defensive ability) will keep him off some writers ballots.
That would be sad if true. He may have been the best offensive catcher in our generation and nobody else even comes close or ever will. Anyone who leaves him off the ballot should have their priveledges revoked.
not unanimous. i’m still wondering how someone will justify maddux. low postseason ERA ? bad hair ?
No way will Piazza be a unanimous hall of famer. No doubt he will be a first ballot entry but the fact that his arm was not the best will hurt his chances at a unanimous vote. Also he played in NY, there are writers and voters that have the NY Bias.
I agree! Mike Piazza is a first-ballot hall of famer hands down. He is one of the top home-run hitting catchers of all time. I believe 2013 will be his year. What will make that better, is Piazza going into Cooperstown wearing a Mets hat.
By the way, I like how you narrowed down your list to 11 players. I think I would have also left off Harold Baines and Jack Morris. The other nine should all get in at some point.
good list. I too would probably add larkin, but I am ambivalent about Blyleven. Very good #s over a long career, but was he ever really dominant, or the best over a period of time? Same argument with a guy like Sutton.
partly it depends on how selective you are. Is the HOF for the absolute cream of the crop (Bonds if you overlook the steroids, Clemens (ditto) and Maddux now, guys like Seaver in the past). or, for very good players that had nice long careers, but were never really the “best” while doing it (Mcgriff might fit here)?
From 1971 to 1976 Blyleven was as dominant a pitcher as anyone not named Seaver.
Alomar wants to go into the HOF with the Mets uniform but probably end up going with the Indians…