Jon and I are proud members of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance. And each year, the organization votes on their choices for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While our group's votes don't actually count towards the real HOF, they are nonetheless instructive as to how baseball bloggers' choices compare with the ones from the Baseball Writers of America.
Anyhow, these are the 32 names on this year's ballot:
Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Luis Castillo, Roger Clemens, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Nomar Garciaparra, Troy Glaus, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Jeff Kent, Mike Lowell, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Mike Mussina, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Lee Smith, Sammy Sosa, Mike Sweeney, Alan Trammell, Billy Wagner, Larry Walker, Randy Winn.
And here are my 10 choices, in no particular order:
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Ken Griffey Jr.
Curt Schilling
Mike Mussina
Jeff Bagwell
Trevor Hoffman
Mike Piazza
Tim Raines
Edgar Martinez
I have changed my mind on some of these candidates over time, like the BBWAA writers have. (A few years ago, I would not have voted for Mike Piazza or Mike Mussina; now they are on my ballot.) I also can't do like the Murray Chasses of the world and only vote for Ken Griffey Jr., due to the steroid issue. (And what a joke is it that Chass still has a vote, when he hasn't written for a newspaper in eight years, and is now a blogger just like yours truly!)
And yes, I did put Curt Schilling, arguably the greatest Yankee-killer of all time, on the list. So sue me! I also voted for Bonds and Clemens. You can't have a real HOF without them.
I debated whether or not to include Mark McGwire, but left him out. If the ballot had 12 spots, though, I would have included him.
Anyhow, these are my choices. Who are yours? Comment below!
If I'm limited to 10, here are mine: Jeff Bagwell, Roger Clemens, Jim Edmonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Trevor Hoffman, Fred McGriff, Mike Mussina, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Alan Trammell.
ReplyDeleteHardest to leave off: Larry Walker, who has the Denver question hanging over him, and was probably one more great season away from being a good choice.
If Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance could be elected as a unit, Trammell and Lou Whitaker should have been in long ago. A case could also be made for Allie Reynolds, Eddie Lopat and Vic Raschi.
Why Clemens and not the other steroid suspects -- including Mike Piazza? Simple: He beat the rap. The accuser had his chance, and blew it. It's as close to vindication as any of them will ever get.