It’s that time of the year again as the debate about whom should be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Outside of the season, this is a very exciting time to be a baseball fan. Now, I am not a voter, but if I was ever given the chance, this is how my ballot would look. Here was my ballot from last year and the rules are explained in the post as well.
Edgar Martinez
This is a controversial pick just because Martinez was a designated hitter for the majority of his career. While I get the sentiment that not playing in the field, the man was a really good hitter. What also hurts him is that he didn’t become a good hitter until he was 27 and not a dominant hitter until he was 31, but he also helped Seattle keep the Mariners in town. Martinez was an MVP type hitter every single year it felt like. If he was putting up the numbers and was getting MVP recognition, he is no doubt a Hall of Famer. Heck, there’s even an award named after him for the best designated hitter in any season. Martinez hit .312 with 309 home runs and drove in 1,261 runs. He came dangerously close to being inducted into the Hall of Fame last year as he got 70.4% of the vote. He will probably get in this year.
Mike Mussina
Didn’t quite win 300 games and I wish he had stayed around to do that as he has 270 career wins, but he was really, really good. Even when the team he played for was not good, he still dominated. How he doesn’t have a no-hitter or a Cy Young award on his resume is beyond me, but if you watched him pitch, you know that he should be a hall of famer. He was also very close to getting into the Hall as he got 63.5%. He should get much higher this time around. Whether he gets elected this time around is more of a wait and see situation.
Roger Clemens
This is a very controversial pick because of steroids allegations, but Roger Clemens might be one of the best pitchers ever to play the game. 354 career wins certainly qualifies that and had 4,672 strikeouts is the nail on the coffin. Sure the allegations doesn’t help, but steroids wasn’t illegal during the time. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a Hall of Famer.
Barry Bonds
Probably one of the greatest players I had ever seen the game, but he is also the most controversial on this list because of the steroid allegations. However, he is the all-time home run leader (and single season with 73) and even has over 500 stolen bases. The man was such a good hitter, in fact the most dangerous I ever saw, that pitchers were legitimately scared to pitch to him. He was a five-tool player and an incredibly special talent. His 2002 season was probably the best season for any player in the history of the game and those numbers are so gaudy you would think they are video game type numbers. The allegations and also being accused for being a terrible teammate really help him here, but he is no doubt a Hall of Famer.
Fred McGriff
Just short of hitting 500 home runs (493) and he hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves?! This man was such a good hitter with tremendous power that he was so much fun to watch especially with the helicopter like swing he had. “Crime Dog” never hit more than 37 home runs, but he consistently hit lots of home runs year in and year out. Why he hasn’t gotten even serious consideration for the Hall is beyond my comprehension.
Mariano Rivera
The greatest closer of all-time. He should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He had over 650 saves, but that isn’t even the most remarkable statistic for his Hall of Fame resume. His postseason ERA was mind-boggling at a 0.70 mark. When he entered any game, the Yankees literally had the game won. And what also is remarkable is that he threw one pitch, a cutter, which he discovered by mistake, and batters knew what he was throwing every time and yet they still could not hit it. That pitch was basically unhittable. There isn’t enough words to describe how good he was.
Todd Helton
Helton was one of the best left hitting batters I had ever seen and I would argue he was more valuable of a hitter than Larry Walker was. Plus his defense was awesome. I would argue that he was the closest thing to a Ted Williams like hitter than even Joey Votto is now as he once hit .370 in 2000. The man was productive as all get out too as he hit nearly 400 home runs albeit playing at Coors Field, plus he had over 2,500 hits. He was the real deal.
Billy Wagner
Had it not been for Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera, this man would have been the greatest closer to ever play the game. He threw electric stuff as a left hander and was very effective. He struck out many batters as in the minimum of 800 innings pitched of all pitchers of all time he had a 11.9 K/9 and 33.2% strikeout rate total batters faced which is the highest of all MLB pitchers ever played. Oh and he had 422 saves. The dude was a beast.
Andy Pettitte
There may be no other guy on this list who was the most underrated on here than Pettitte as he won over 250 games and was one of the best postseason pitchers of all-time as he has the most wins in the postseason for any other pitcher. Oh and that pick off move? Phenomenal as he probably had the best of all-time.
Larry Walker
This guy had power, he had speed, he hit for a high average, he had a great arm, and was a stout defender. This guy gets overlooked a bit, but if you look at his numbers you would think this guy probably should get serious Hall of Fame recognition if Edgar Martinez got as much as he did. Walker’s numbers were .313 with 383 home runs and 1,311 RBIs. He might not get in, but he certainly gets my vote.
Snubs
Roy Halladay
Halladay was a phenomenal pitcher in his prime as he could easily go seven or eight innings with no-hit ball. He was one of the hardest guys to leave out here.
Manny Ramirez
One of the best hitters I ever saw play the game as he had over 500 home runs. The PED situation hurts him.
Jeff Kent
Probably the greatest second baseman to play the game.
Omar Vizquel
Probably the best defensive shortstop ever to play.
Gary Sheffield
Has over 500 home runs, but has been accused of doing steroids.
Andruw Jones
Was one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game for a good long while and hit over 400 home runs. His steep decline is what hurts him here as he was on the trajectory to be one of the best of all-time.
Sammy Sosa
Over 600 home runs, but steroids allegations hurt him.
Curt Schilling
While a stellar pitcher in his time and was one of the best during his career, it’s going to be a while before he gets taken seriously and should be.
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