FanNation - The Republic of Sport

I have witnessed several post on the message boards and TD sites over the past several months that ponder the age old question, "Is this guy a first ballot electee to the Hall of Fame?" Plug in the name, the question is still relevant.

Many players that I have watched play the game during the past forty years have come and gone without so much as a consideration to the HOF but then there are the others. You know, the ones that make us come back for more. The ones that even when we pull against them make us ooh and ahh but still smile wryly once the dust settles and the play is finished. The super stars, they don't wear mask or capes but they are icons and heroes just the same. There have been more kids in America that grew up dreaming of being at the plate, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, two outs, the count is 3-2......and WHAM! There's a drive , deep left field and that baby is outta here! Well, you get the picture.

So now, to the point of this blog. Did you know that since 2001 only nine (9) players have made it into the Hall of Fame as first ballot electees. Nine, that is barely one each year! With that kind of record how does anyone know who will or will not be a first ballot entry? I am not saying that if a player does not get elected the first year of eligibility that he never will; Goose Gossage is a great example of that. However, most players chances diminish drastically with each passing year.

The Hall does have the Veterans Committee that can bring guys from the past up for consideration. That is also how managers and owners get recognized and elected as well. But as a general rule the Baseball Writers' Association of America holds an election every year for the purpose of electing the players you and I have watched all our lives.

The retired players wait with baited breath for the results each year knowing that they must earn 75% of the total writers votes to be elected. Typically nowadays there is around 530 writers that get to submit votes. This means that every player is hoping for around 400 votes.

Here is a couple of interesting notes about past voting. Cal Ripken JR carried the highest the third highest percentage of votes ever for an inductee in 2007 with 98.53% of the writers voting for him. That means that 8 writers did not have his name on their ballot sheet. Eight professional sports writers that has been in the business of covering sports for more than ten years DID NOT have him on their ballots. If Cal could not carry them all, no one ever will.

So back to my question again, "How can anyone be guaranteed a first ballot entry?" I personally think we have several first ballot entries in the waiting but there is no guarantee for any of them. Guys like Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera from this generation of players should be a shoo in. But are they?

Craig Biggio, Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, and I am trying to use players never associated with PEDs, all these players must go in. Shouldn't they? 

I plan on following up with this with more later if FN seems to enjoy this line of thinking. Just let me know. I always look forward to your comments.