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| Jeff Bagwell |
Jeff Bagwell:
Bagwell played his entire career with the Houston Astros, collected 2314 hits, 449 home runs, 1529 RBIs, and 202 stolen bases, over 15 years. On his shelf is a Rookie of the Year award for 1991 and an MVP award for the shortened 1994 season. Bagwell was a stud in the lineup for the Astros and definetly desevres to be induccted into the Hall of Fame. Bagwell also has no connection to steroids.
Biggio also played his entire career with the Houston Astros, and he collected 3060 hits, 291 home runs, 1175 RBI, and 414 stolen bases. Biggio was one of the most well rounded players collecting 4 gold glove awards and 5 silver slugger awards. Biggio played at least 140 games in 17 of his 20 seasons making him one of the most consistent players of a generation. I like many others was shocked Biggio did not get inducted last year, but he will definitely be inducted in 2014.
Barry Bonds:
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| Barry Bonds |
Roger Clemens:
Clemens split time between the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Astros, and Yankees over 24 seasons. He has 354 wins, a 3.12 ERA, and 4672 strikeouts. Stats like those earned him 7 Cy Young Awards, 1 MVP, and 11 All Star Game appearances.Clemens was in fact found guilty for performence enhancing drugs and also continued to deny it. Although he was found not guilty in one of his many trials, everyone knows the truth. Clemens will also never reach the Hall of Fame.
Tom Glavine:
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| Tom Glavine |
Jeff Kent:
Kent played 17 seasons split between the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Astros and half a season with the Blue Jays and Indians. He collected 2461 hits, 377 home runs, 1518 RBIs, and hold the record for most home runs by a second baseman. Kent has just 1 MVP award for the 2000 season, but 4 silver slugger awards. Kent was a really good player, especially at second base, but he wasn't among the greatest. Kent would not get my vote this time around.
Greg Maddux:
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| Greg Maddux |
Edgar Martinez:
Edgar Martinez is understood to be one of the greatest designated hitters ever. He played his entire 18 year career with the Seattle Mariners. He collected 2247 hits, 309 home runs, and 1261 RBIs. Martinez was often overlooked by playing along side names like Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr, and Ichiro Suzuki, but he has always been a consistant bat in the Mariners lineup during his career. He never won an MVP nor a gold glove, but was part of 7 All Star Games, and collected 4 Silver Slugger Awards. Martinez was a very good player, and consistent, but I do not know how being a DH will effect him. I would not vote for Martinez on this ballot.
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| Don Mattingly |
Don Mattingly:
Don Mattingly does not have many more chances to get into the Hall of Fame. He was a great leader, and one of the best players of the 80s and early 90s. He played 14 seasons, collected 2153 hits, and hit 1099 RBIs. Mattingly may not have the numbers to get into the Hall of Fame, but thousands of young fans looked up to Mattingly and that is something to honor, he must have been a great player to have such a strong fan base. I would vote Mattingly in.
Fred McGriff:
McGriff played 19 seasons split between the Devil Rays, Braves, Blue Jays, Padres, Cubs, and Dodgers. Over those 19 seasons he hit 493 home runs, 2490 hits, and 1550 RBIs. McGriff never won an MVP or a Gold Glove Award, but was elected to 5 All Star Games and won 3 Silver Slugger Awards. McGriff played a complete seasons every year from 1988-2002 making him a relieable player. McGriff has the stats to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but I am unsure how I feel about the bouncing from team to team. I would not vote for McGriff this first time.
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| Mark McGuire |
McGuire was not inducted into the Hall of Fame last year for the same reason that Clemens and Bonds weren't. McGuire openly admitted to steroid usage, but because he came out and did so, makes his chances of getting in better. McGuire has 583 home runs, 1626 hits, and 1414 RBIs over 16 seasons with the Athletics and Cardinals. McGuire will not be elected this time around, but I think he
may be the first player convicted of steroid usage to get into the Hall of Fame, due to his sportsman ship and open confession.
Jack Morris:
Morris played 18 seasons mostly with the Tigers collecting 254 wins with a 3.90 ERA and 2478 strikeouts. He never won a Cy Young Award, and was selected to just a few All Star Games. This is Morris' last year to be inducted to the Hall of Fame, but that is no reason to induct him. His ERA is way to high for a Hall of Famer. He has a significant amount of wins, but when you think of great, you don't think about giving up 4 runs per game. I would not vote for Morris, nor do I think he will get in the Hall of Fame.
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| Mike Mussina |
Mussina was one of the players that I liked to watch growing up, but I realize he isn't one of the greatest players ever. He pitched 10 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles and 8 seasons for the New York Yankees. He acquired 270 wins in that time period and held a 3.68 ERA. He had 7 gold glove awards and pitched his first 20 win season in the last year of his career. Mussina will always be considered on the better pitchers of the 90s and early 2000s, but will not make the Hall of Fame this time around. He might make it 5 years down the road.
Rafael Palmeiro:
Palmeiro split 20 seasons between the Orioles, Rangers, and Cubs and put up some big numbers. He gathered 3020 hits, 569 home runs, and 1835 RBIs. Although he has 3 Gold Glove Awards and 2 Silver Slugger Awards, he never won an MVP. Palmeiro's Hall of Fame campaign is stained by the usage of steroids. He too was part of the steroid era, but his name does not come up as often as others. He fulfilled both the 3000 hits and 500 home run bench marks, but the steroids blemish his resume. Palmeiro will not make the Hall of Fame this year.
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| Mike Piazza |
Mike Piazza played 16 seasons with mostly the Mets and Dodgers, and is considered one of the best catchers of all time. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1993, 12 All Star Game appearances, and 10 Silver Slugger Awards. He wasn't quite known for his defense, but he could swing a mean bat. People like to connect Piazza
with steroid usage, but he was never accused and his record is clean. Piazza deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and won't get in this year but will in the future.
Tim Raines:
Raines is a speed demon that played for The Expos, White Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Athletics, and Marlins over 23 seasons. He has 808 career stolen bases along with 2605 hits and 170 home runs. With Just 7 All Star Game appearances and 1 Silver Slugger Award Tim Raines wasn't among the great players. He was a very good player, but there are several other players I would take over him. I would not induct Raines into the Hall of Fame.
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| Curt Schilling |
Curt Schilling:
When someone says Schilling you think of the post season, but the post season doesn't have much of an effect on my decision to vote someone in, because it is a team effort to win. Schilling sported 216 wins, a 3.46 ERA and 3116 strikeouts. Schilling had some dominating seasons, but not a dominating career. He eclipsed 300 strikeouts two times, and won 3 World Series, but Schilling would not get my vote the first time around.
Lee Smith:
Smith collected 478 saves with 8 different teams in an 18 year career. He holds a 3.03 ERA and 1251 strikeouts and will represent the modern closer in the Hall of Fame ballots. Elected to 7 All Star Games, Smith was one of the best relief pitchers in the game. If he gets into the Hall of Fame then players like Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner, and Mariano Rivera should get in without a doubt. I would vote for Smith to get into the Hall.
Sammy Sosa:
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| Sammy Sosa |
Sosa also convicted to steroid usage played 18 seasons, 13 with the Chicago Cubs, and slugged 609 home runs, collected 2408 hits, and drove in 1667 runs. Sosa won the MVP award in 1998 along with several Silver Slugger Awards and All Star Game appearances. Sosa has a lot of accolades, but he did take steroids and it is understood that much of his success is attributed to the usage. Sosa will never get into the Hall of Fame.
Frank Thomas:
Thomas played 19 seasons, 16 with the Chicago White Sox. He hit 521 home runs, 2468 hits, and 170 RBIs in his career. He racked up back to back MVP awards in 1993 and 1994, 5 All Star Game appearance and 4 Silver Slugger Awards. The Cubs had Sosa juicing on there team and The White Sox had Thomas juicing on their side. Thomas another steroid user, will not get into the Hall of Fame.
Alan Trammell:
Trammell does not have blow you away stats, but was slick in the field. He collected 2365 hits, 185 home runs, and 1003 RBIs, but also found his way to 4 Gold Glove Awards. Trammell had no connection with steroids and played his entire 20 year career with the Detroit Tigers. He has been eligible to be inducted for a while, and there is a reason why he hasn't been yet, he doesn't have the stats to go with the Hall of Fame. I would not vote for Alan Trammell.
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| Larry Walker |
Larry Walker:
Walker played 10 seasons in Colorado and 6 in Montreal out of the 17 in his career. Walker is just one of the players everyone loves. He put up 2160 hits, 383 home runs, and 1311 RBIs. Most shockingly he also had a career 141 OPS+, meaning for his career he was 41% better than average. Walker is a special kind of player. He has just one MVP in 1997, but he has 7 Gold Glove Awards and 3 Silver Slugger Awards. Walker would get my vote in the induction.
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