For the first time since 1996, no candidates eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) will be granted entrance as voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). For those unfamiliar with the process, the BBWAA is in charge of voting on and electing eligible candidates into Baseball’s HOF. A player must be retired from baseball for 5 years before he can become eligible for the HOF, and a player must garner 75% or more of the writers’ votes to be awarded entrance into the HOF. What made this year special and unique was that this was the first year of eligibility for major players involved in the steroid era, namely Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Others with first-year eligibility who were suspected of using steroids and PED are Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, and Craig Biggio. All did not get in.
Craig Biggio lead the group of eligible candidates with 68.2% of the vote, followed by Jack Morris (67.7%), Jeff Bagwell (59.6%), Mike Piazza (57.8%), and Tim Raines (52.2%). Barry Bonds received 36.2%, Roger Clemens received 37.6%, Curt Schilling 38.8%, Mark McGwire 16.9%, and Sammy Sosa 12.5%.
What the BBWAA did today by not electing anyone into the Baseball HOF is a shame and travesty. With all of the eligible candidates they had to choose from, to not elected anyone from this years’ group is just wrong. First off, the BBWAA's unwritten rule to not elect anyone into the baseball HOF on their first-year of eligibility, unless they were truly a special player, is insane. If a player is a HOF’er, he’s a HOF’er; no matter in his first-year of eligibility or in his ninth-year of eligibility. Second, I understand that some of the old-timers in the BBWAA want to punish those players for their part in the "supposed" steroid era, but there were other candidates’ eligibility this year who weren’t a part, or played no role, in or with the steroid era who deserved to make it this year. Jack Morris, Tim Raines, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Dale Murphy, and Edgar Martinez are all well-deserving players who deserve to be elected into baseball’s HOF. Third, get over yourselves, BBWAA. Ok, you want to take a stance and bash those involved with the "supposed" steroid era, that’s fine; but do so in your columns. To completely ignore the era and shun them from baseball’s HOF is wrong. It "supposedly" happened, just like the "dead-ball" or "shrinking ballpark" era, it's all a part of baseball's history and needs to be recognized. These are some of the greatest players in baseball history and it’s a shame that they will not be recognized in baseball’s HOF. Instead of completely ignoring the era, just accept that it occurred, recognize it, and move on.
Now I’m only an amateur blogger, but if I had a vote, here is who I would have elected into the HOF (maximum 10 players allowed on a ballot):
Craig Biggio – 3,000 hits, played multiple positions.
Jack Morris – 254 wins and possibly the best big-game pitcher of our generation.
Mike Piazza – best offensive catcher in baseball history.
Roger Clemens – 7 CY Young Awards, enough said.
Barry Bonds – do I even need to make this argument? Please!
Edgar Martinez – career .312 hitter and was one of the best pure hitters of our generation.
Mark McGwire – saved the game of baseball after the strike era.
Sammy Sosa – see McGwire, Mark.
Rafael Palmeiro – you can’t deny 3,000 hits and 500 hrs.
Tim Raines – comparable offensive numbers to Rickey Henderson (excluding hrs).Baseball as a whole needs to reevaluate how they go about election players into its HOF. Have it in the hands of the BBWAA is old and antiquated. Some of the BBWAA members don't even cover a team or the sports closely anymore (for a lifetime ballot, you just need to cover a team or the sport for 10 years). They need to move to a panel or committee process. Have a panel or committee made up of former players, executives, and writers, and have them decide who gets into baseball's HOF or not. That would be more logical and also cut out most of the nonsense that are these unwritten rules and vindictive attitudes these BBWAA members have toward certain players.
Bottom line, the baseball writers got it wrong today.
Mr. Armchair Speaking!!!
Biggio is the only player in the history of baseball with 3000 hits, 600 doubles, 400 stolen bases, and 250 home runs.(291 hr actually-only 9 short off 300, which would put him in company w/ the great Willie Mays.
ReplyDeleteNext yr we see Maddux, Glavine, Frank Thomas, Mussina, Luis Gonzalez, . Maddux isa NO BRAINER first ballot HOF. Glavine and Tgomas should make it too at some point.
...2015 brings even more goodies such as Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Smoltz and Sheffield!
I agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteI agree that its silly to not vote guys in soley based on because its their first or second year of eligibility and they should have to wait. However, I've always believed that the HOF should actually be tougher to make and they have, in the past, let too many guys in. Players that get elected in for example, in their 10th-15 years of eligibility just because they are running out of time. Well if they weren't good enough to make it in during their first few years of eligibility than why now? Some of the guys you mentioned: Alan Trammel, Dale Murphy, Lee Smith, etc I do not believe should be in the HOF. The HOF should be reserved for only the very Elite.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the steroid era (and please stop referring to it as the "supposed" steroid era. Who are you kidding, it happened and was widespread), they can't just ignore it. It happened, and as you mentioned above, had a vital role in "saving" baseball and keeping many fans around while drawing in new fans. Even if Cooperstown has to make a separate area for the Steroid Era, they need to be included. Afterall its called the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Any Museum needs to have a collection of significant and historical importance.