Like this winter's free agents, Hall of Fame class isn't deep
The stress has dissipated. The ordeal is finished.
Christmas shopping?
Heck no. My Hall of Fame ballot.
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| Jack Morris won more games than any pitcher in the '80s, but is still waiting to get into the Hall. (Getty Images) |
This year's ballot moved along a little more quickly, however, for one simple reason. The list of those newly eligible for Hall of Fame consideration is not dissimilar to this winter's free-agent class: It's not very deep and it's lacking in clout.
Which is why this year's vote -- results are to be announced in early January -- also will be particularly riveting.
There is a very good chance that nobody will be elected. And because of the weak list of newcomers -- of whom the top names are Albert Belle, Dwight Gooden, Orel Hershiser, Will Clark and Rick Aguilera -- this figures to be the best chance for holdovers Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice and Goose Gossage.
Of those not elected last year, Sutter finished with the highest percentage of the vote -- 66.7 percent. Rice was next at 59.5 percent and Gossage was third runner-up at 55.2 percent.
A total of 75 percent of the vote is needed for election to the Hall. Last year, 516 ballots were cast, meaning 387 votes were necessary for election.
So the question is, as voters pass on the newcomers -- there are 29 names on this year's ballot; electors cannot vote for more than 10 -- might some who also skipped on the Sutters and Rices in past years be more inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt this time?
None of those guys beefed up his statistics over the past 12 months, of course, which is the old argument against. If somebody didn't think Sutter was a Hall of Famer a year ago, then why should he change his mind this December?
A guy is either a Hall of Famer or he isn't, right? As I wrote a year ago, a player shouldn't suddenly become more Hall-worthy just because this year's ballot might be weak.
The six names on my ballot this year -- a ballot that does not include any first-timers:
