Every year, I tell myself that I’m not going to get worked up over the Hall of Fame Ballot. I’m not going to get into it. I’m not going to get riled up. Nope, I’m not going to do it. And every year, what do I do? I break that promise to myself. During the doldrums of the Hot Stove Season, it is something fun to discuss to pass the time before the coals get raked properly. You can see the ballot here. The most players you can have on a single ballot is ten. Here’s whom I’d vote for if I had a vote:
(Alphabetical)
1. Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell had a .406 career wOBA (149 wRC+) and racked up 83.9 fWAR (79.9 bWAR) and he belted 449 homers. On merit alone, Bagwell should’ve been elected last year, but the writers were able to scare up just enough steroid suspicion to keep him out. Sad, really.
2. Barry Larkin. The Cincinnati shortstop hit to a .366 wOBA (122 wRC+) for his career. In terms of WAR, he finished at 68.9 bWAR and 70.6 fWAR. Larkin was a fine hitting shortstop and was one of the best in the business.
3. Edgar Martinez. .318/.415/.515. .405 wOBA. 148 wRC+. And despite crappy positional adjustments, he still racked up 69.9 fWAR and 67.2 bWAR. Put simply, Edgar Martinez was one of the finest hitters for the 1990s and into the first part of this century. I don’t care that he was a DH; his hitting was that damn good.
4. Mark McGwire. Blah blah steroids. Don’t care. Put him in based on his numbers.
5. Rafael Palmiero. Same thing.
6. Tim Raines. Read here.
And that’s it. I don’t like Jack Morris as a HOF pitcher. I love you, Bernie Williams, but you’re just short. Someone could convince me on Alan Trammell and I assume one of you will in the comments. As much as I love them, too, I think Don Mattingly and Fred McGriff fall just short. Tim Salmon was a lot better than I remember him being, but definitely short of the Hall. Dale Murphy falls short, too. So, give it a go, ladies and gents. What’s your hypothetical ballot look like?
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4 Responses to Hall of Fame Ballot Fun
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TIQ IQ
I agree with all of your selections. However, while his case is certainly debatable, doesn’t Larry Walker at least deserve a mention? He’s much more deserving than Don Mattingly, Jack Morris, or Tim Salmon.
I pretty much agree with your ballot, but I think I would add Lee Smith to my ballot, he helped define the closers role, 17 years, 478 saves (3rd all time) and he was first for a while until hoffman and mo overtook him, 7 all stars that at least warrants discussion.
I would add:
Larry Walker – elite all-around player, based on most every conceivable metric. He was well-deserving of his seven Gold Gloves, and he was a much better base-runner than most realize (around 80% SB in his best seasons, 75% career). His career WAR does look a bit spotty for a corner OF type and he is hindered a bit by Coors Field … but he batted .286/.387/.520 in his time with the Cardinals, posting 3.9 bWAR as he was on his last legs. And he hit .294/.371/.516 in his age 25 – 27 seasons with the Expos … he would’ve raked anywhere.
Alan Trammell – he’s a tick behind the very best Hall of Fame shortstops, but he remains one of the fifteen or so best players to man the position. He probably should have won the MVP in 1987 (though I think Boggs was up there, as well), and he produced eleven well above-average seasons in a row for the Tigers. I don’t think he’s a slam-dunk type, but he may be the best modern shortstop on the outside looking in (as I assume Larkin will get in, and Dahlen was a Dead Ball player).
Tim Raines hit a homer off my dad back in like ’78 or so. He should be voted in based on that