My Hall of Fame ballot

Through some clerical oversight, I have not yet been made a member of the BBWAA. However, if I had been admitted fifteen years ago, as I contend I should have been, I would be voting on Hall of Fame admittance this year. So here’s how I would vote, if I could.

Ricky Henderson

This one is obvious enough that no explanation is necessary.

Bert Blyleven

Honestly, I have no idea how he isn’t in already. If 300 wins are automatic for admittance, you would think that his 287 would certainly be enough. If not that, then the fact that he is fifth all time in career strikeouts should certainly be enough to get him in. But so far, no such luck. Still, he would get my vote.

Tim Raines

If not for Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines would be getting a lot of consideration for best lead off hitter of all time. He should absolutely be a no-brainer selection here, but it looks like he’s going to fall significantly short. But his numbers without a doubt merit enshrinement in Cooperstown. Raines is fourth all time in stolen bases, behind only Henderson, Lou Brock, and Ty Cobb. He had a career OBP of .385, better than Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, Carl Yastrzemski, Duke Snider, Honus Wagner, and only .001 behind Willie Mays. During his peak years, before he started losing time to injuries and owner collusion, he was as good as anyone in the game.

I’m on the fence about both Alan Trammell and Mark McGwire; if either of them get in, which doesn’t seem likely in the near future, I won’t be upset about it at all.

There are, however, some players on the ballot who absolutely should not be in. Jack Morris, and his startlingly average career ERA+ (105) will probably fall short, as he should. Similarly, Andre Dawson will likely fail to enter Cooperstown this year, though in the future he may make a push, despite is awful career on base percentage (.323). Finally, the “most feared hitter for twelve seasons,” Jim Rice. He had six seasons that were possibly HOF worthy, but they rest of his career fell way short. He has a ton of RBI, because he had a ton of RBI opportunities, but RBI is a terrible stat by which to judge a player’s worth. If he hadn’t played his entire career in Boston, he probably would have fallen off the ballot years ago, both because he wouldn’t have the Boston media behind him, and because he was helped out by playing in such a hitter-friendly park. He’s going to get in this year, without a doubt, and he will probably be one of the five worst players in the Hall.