Baseball Hall of Fame
 

Well, it's that time of year again; the discussion has started of who should be elected for the next class of Hall of Famers. If you had a ballot, who would get your vote?

Greg Jeffries, Walt Weiss, and Gary Disarcina


Seriously, I think this is a pretty weak class this year. Probably Jack Morris although he wasn't really friendly with the media. I wouldn't be surprised if Jim Rice got voted in because he has been so close the last few years but I only see Morris as borderline hall worthy.

There's been a lot of talk around Boston about Rice getting more support. For a period of 12 years he led the majors in a bunch of categories, including home runs, RBI's, hits and slugging.

I supposed I should answer my own question; if I had a ballot, here would be my picks:

Bert Blyleven (the best active pitcher not in the Hall)
Jim Rice (the top hitter of his day)
Goose Gossage (ridiculous numbers as a reliever, only hurt because he hung around so long)

I'm also well aware of the fact that my all-time favorite baseball player, Don Mattingly, will NEVER be voted into the Hall.

I have been reading that on some national websites as well. Its a weak year really so it wouldn't surprise me if he gets in this year at all.

I would like to see them make a "Hall of reallly good" so players like Mattingly and Rice would still be recognized for what they did.

With the long memories that us Yankees fans have, I don't think Mattingly will be forgotten. He got his number retired and a monument in Monument Park, which was great to see.

Albert Belle is a guy I've gone back and forth on. He put up some great numbers for a few years, but in my mind I'm not sure if it was long enough. I may be a tad hypocritical in giving Rice a vote, but not Belle.

You do bring up a good point though - where does a player cross the line between "very good" and Hall-worthy? It's going to be interesting in a few years when guys like Bagwell, Biggio, and Frank Thomas (all Hall of Famers in my opinion) start coming up for election. Unfortunately, my first inclination is that at least one of these guys won't get the support he deserves.

That will be wierd indeed when the time comes for these three. I would imagine Biggio would be the most respected out of the group due to the lack of good hitting middle infielders although Thomas and Bagwell are right there numberswise as well. Most Sox fans think Thomas should be in but I think his last five years or so will be enough to keep him out. Maybe a Jim Rice situation with those three.

It looks like Bruce Sutter is in -- unreal. Goose and Blyleven are passed over again...

I was just about to post that Sutter would be the obvious inclusion, according to previous ballots . . .

The only person on the current ballot that I would vote for would be Blyleven - he's in the top 10% of all HOFers currently, he's more than deserving.

Jim Rice was far worse than Albert Belle, even when adjusted for era - Belle doesn't make it purely for longevity concerns, while Rice probably was never dominant in the sense most think of currently.

Of course, neither was Sutter (especially compared to Gossage - jesus)

If I were Goose, I would not be happy right now...

ETA: I forgot that Ripken and Gwynn were coming up in the next couple of years.

Ok that is some HILARIOUS stuff. LOL


But seriously, I don't even know who is eligable. Any names out there?

Possibly the worst thing is, a couple of those guys got votes. There were actually voters who voted for Hal Morris, Walt Weiss, Rick Aguilera and Doug Jones.

All of those writers should have their votes taken away.

Wait, you mean he was serious? I thought Walt Weiss and Gary Discarcina was a joke.

Wow

Here is a list of players that were on this years ballot.

Hall of fame ballot

Kind of a weak ballot this year, if I had to vote I would have turned in a blank sheet.

Thanks for the heads up.

I'd vote Orel, Garvey and ummm Albert Belle.

Not that they are deserving or anything. But obviously I have a bias with Orel and Garvey. Albert Belle, well he's probably still pissed at me after I egged his house, so this outta make it up.