Hadn’t gotten round to this until now due to… other news… but the 2018 Hall of Fame Ballot came out this week. How’s that going to work, Braves fans?
The 2018 HOF ballot is awash with talent, having 33 total names,19 new entries, and 7 who played for the Atlanta Braves.
Seven? Are you surprised the number is that high? Well it may not matter, for probably only one of those players will get the nod this year… even though 4 to 5 of them deserve serious consideration.
Here is the entire ballot… and BaseballReference.com kindly put together all of these players with their career stat lines (one-time Braves’ players noted with ª):
- Trevor Hoffman
- Vladimir Guerrero
- Edgar Martinez
- Roger Clemens
- Barry Bonds
- Mike Mussina
- Curt Schilling
- Manny Ramirez
- Larry Walker
- Fred McGriff ª
- Jeff Kent
- Garry Sheffield ª
- Billy Wagner ª
- Sammy Sosa
- Chipper Jones ª (new entries for 2018 start here)
- Jim Thome
- Scott Rolen
- Andruw Jones ª
- Johan Santana
- Johnny Damon
- Carlos Zambrano
- Jamie Moyer
- Omar Vizquel
- Chris Carpenter
- Livan Hernandez ª
- Orlando Hudson
- Kevin Millwood ª
- Kerry Wood
- Carlos Lee
- Aubrey Huff
- Hideki Matsui
- Jason Isringhausen
- Brad Lidge
That Elephant’s Still in the Room
I am very curious about whether Joe Morgan’s well-discussed letter will change the minds of any voters – either way. That letter – full text reprinted here – urged Hall voters to exclude those known to use steroid PEDs.
Personally, while Morgan has taken a lot of criticism about this, I am on board with his comments. A lot of people have pointed to the rampant use of amphetamines in an earlier era as an early version of a ‘performance enhancing drug’.
But Morgan – writing as a ‘Vice Chairman’ of Hall of Famers appeared to draw a thick line of demarcation between drugs of the past and steroids:
"Steroid users knew they were taking a drug that physically improved how they played. Taking steroids is a decision. It’s the deliberate act of using chemistry to change how hard you hit and throw by changing what your body is made of."
I can infer from his words that this is a distinctive difference between ‘getting back on the field’ just to play (using “greenies”) and ‘artificially changing your body to gain an advantage over the competition’.
Those are my words, but I think he’d agree. In addition, he’s suggesting that his fellow Hall members could execute something of a mass boycott of ceremonies in which steroid users (or at least those strongly suspected) are inducted. That would be interesting.
But the voters had asked for some guidance from the Hall… and they got it this week – like it or not.
Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens (for two) polled in the 54% range last year – their 6th times on the ballot. Let’s see how those numbers change in January.
My “Ballot”
Voters are still limited to ten check boxes per year. I still think that’s a crying shame, but then I believe in putting in all deserving players, regardless of how many speeches need be made during the Summer ceremonies.
So I’m going to identify 10 names… and then the ‘extras’ I believe are Hall worthy. Your mileage may (and probably will) vary:
- Trevor Hoffman
- Vlad Guerrero
- Edgar Martinez (this is his last shot; polled 58.6% in 2017)
- Mike Mussina
- Curt Schilling
- Chipper Jones
- Andruw Jones
- Fred McGriff
- Billy Wagner (compare his WAR to that of Hoffman)
- Jim Thome
A buff list of feared hitters and feared pitchers. With additional votes, I would add Scott Rolen, Jeff Kent, and probably Omar Vizquel.
Chipper will get his call, as will Vlad and Hoffman. Thome might. I sincerely hope Martinez isn’t eliminated. McGriff’s momentum is waning.
Those with concerns…
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I am on the fence about Gary Sheffield. He has some steroid taint, but it’s unclear how much.
I am a ‘no’ on Bonds, Clemens, Ramirez, and Sosa. Now and forever.
I want McGriff to be enshrined for his play on the field – and because he’s universally known as a guy who played the game right. If players can be excluded for bad behavior, then why can’t extra points be applied for the best behavior?
As always, I’m certain others will want to weigh in – and you should. This is a fans game, a fans Hall, and the fans should speak.
Next: Oh - speaking of bad behavior...
It will never be a ‘perfect’ Hall of Fame, so let’s also not make this goal of perfection the enemy of the good. Elect those who excelled and upheld the game’s ideals of fair play – reject those who clearly chose to skip some steps along the way.