With us Browns fans being held hostage by the Tennessee Titans for a few more days and another baseball Hall of Fame class on the verge of being announced, I figured now would be a good time to talk about this year's ballot. To be honest the Titans are causing widespread alcoholism for fans all around Cleveland and I need a change of pace.
Below is the list of eligible players from previous seasons along with some notables among the players new to this year's ballot. The real vote will be announced on January 8th.
2008 Hall of Fame Ballot
Holdovers from previous years:
Harold Baines (99)
Bert Blyleven (81-85)
Dave Concepcion
Andre Dawson
Rich "Goose" Gossage
Tommy John (63-64)
Don Mattingly
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris (94)
Dale Murphy
Dave Parker
Jim Rice
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
New to this year (years spent with Indians):
Brady Anderson (02)
Rod Beck
Shawon Dunston (98)
Chuck Finley (00-02)
Travis Fryman (98-02)
David Justice (97-00)
Chuck Knoblauch
Robb Nen
Tim Raines
Jose Rijo
Todd Stottlemyre
If anybody actually were crazy enough to give me a vote, here is who I'd put a check mark next to. Team listed is the team whose cap I believe he should wear at induction considering there are several players who played for a handful of teams.
Rich "Goose" Gossage – Closer – Yankees
This 9-time all star finished his career with 310 saves while playing his prime years in an era in which closers usually pitched more than an inning. He also won a World Series ring in '78 with the Yankees and was the dominant closer of his era hands down. That last part of the previous sentence should stand out over any era comparing statistic in my opinion.
Jack Morris – Starting Pitcher – Tigers
In his 18 year career, Morris won 254 games and while posting an era of 3.90. What stands above his statistics though is the fact that he won 4 World Series ('84 w/Det, '91 w/Min, & 92-93 w/Tor) and, in his prime, always showed up in the World Series (2.96). Morris was also the American Legue's best pitcher of the 1980's. He's most remembered for his 10-inning 1-0 victory in game 7 of the 1991 World Series vs. the Braves. Close runner up: quitting on the Indians in the middle of a playoff race during the 1994 season to work on his farm.
Mark McGwire – First Base – Cardinals
For reasons I've previously mentioned, I would vote for players from the "steroid era." Sure he only hit .263, but he had a career on-base % of .394 and a .588 slugging %. Those are big numbers for any era including the inflated statistical era of the past decade and a half. Big Mac also led the league in home runs five times and also won a World Series in 1989 with Oakland. Bonus points for this "Bash Brothers" poster with Jose Canseco.
Bert Blyleven – Starting Pitcher – Twins
How is a guy with a career total of 287 wins and a 3.31 era not in the Hall of Fame yet? This is a guy who was usually on some pretty bad teams, though he won 15 games for the '87 Twins and 12 more for the '79 Pirates which are both World Series winning teams. Perhaps most impressive is the fact he won 19 games for the 1984 Indians baby! He even finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting despite the team's 6th place finish in the AL East. However, having the infamous Chris Berman nickname Bert "behome"Blyleven could affect him in the ballot box. Stay tuned.
Jim Rice – Outfield – Red Sox
If Albert Belle had a baseball idol while growing up, I would have to guess it may be this guy. Actually, compared to Belle, Jim Rice was pretty tame. However, the media continues to give him the same type of neglect. He won one MVP during his monster season of '78 and could have won more if he had gotten along with the media. He hit 382 homers in an era (1974-89) in which he was, for the most part, the American League's most dominant power threat. How much longer can the voters ignore this guy?
Now I know some people are going to bitch about Tim Raines. I really don't care. First of all, Raines is on his first year on the ballot. I know some people hate the fact that voters save first ballot elections for the "best of the best," but you know what? That's why it's the Hall of Fame! The pretty good need not apply. If I want to vote for some guy who stole a lot of bases in the 80's I'd vote for Willie McGee first. Hell, at least he won an MVP and a World Series. Oh by the way, I hate Willie McGee.
Feel free to comment,mock, or share who you would vote for.