Will Tom Seaver's record ever be broken?

[fenrir]

Seaver currently holds the record with 98.84 percent of the votes cast. Is that a record that will stand forever? Or do you think perhaps a player could surpass it?

Here's three off the top of my head that I think could surpass Seaver's percentage:

Greg Maddux: Most wins since WWII, 4 Cy Youngs, 5,000+ career IP, bunches of gold gloves, great peak and longevity. Also an overall nice guy that's very well respected.

Albert Pujols: Statistically one of the best hitters ever. Probably will retire with 600+ career home runs, a career BA well over .300, more walks than strike outs. Also 3 MVP's, and bunches of top five finishes. Also a very well liked guy.

Derek Jeter: Not on the same level as the other two, but probably the most popular. He has 3,000+ hits, good postseason success, 5 rings, and is the captain of the Yankees.

[Joltin' Joe]

Maddux is the safest bet; there is still possibility of some scandal with the active players.

[fenrir]

Maddux is the safest bet; there is still possibility of some scandal with the active players.

This is true. This is all barring any steroid or gambling scandals of-course.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I expect Maddux to break it. Jeter will probably draw about 98%, but won't top Seaver. Pujols should get about 95%. If he stays a top-flight player with the Angels (and he seems to be picking things back up as of right now) he should get a little more. But I think only Maddux will surpass Seaver.

[redban]

Seaver's record might stay for some time.

There's no reason why Maddux shouldn't get 100%, but the same could have been said about Cal Ripken Jr.

If Ripken didn't get 100%, why will anyone else?

[milladrive]

Personally, I can't put any faith whatsoever one way or another in the BBWAA.

I will say this, though. 100% is virtually unthinkable for anyone.

[brett]

Any thoughts on why Seaver didn't make the all century team (besides that it was not really well chosen?) but they did have like 9 pitchers.

[dgarza]

Here's an interesting note. While Seaver's 98.84% is the highest percentage, Johnny Bench still held the record for number of votes received (431). That record was not broke until 2002, when Ozzie Smith received more votes (433).

[SteveJRogers]

Any thoughts on why Seaver didn't make the all century team (besides that it was not really well chosen?) but they did have like 9 pitchers.

Because as great as The Franchise was, he just isn't on the tip of fan's minds when voting for the greatest pitchers they've ever heard of. Hence Nolan Ryan being on that team.

He also has never been big on self promotion and appearing on the national stage in MLB productions and the like. Combine that with a large ego and reports of being called boorish by those who've interacted with him at appearances and you get a sense that Seaver, like his fellow 70s icon Steve Carlton, just isn't considered on the same level by the masses.

[pheasant]

I don't see the record being broken for decades. There are too many questions right now regarding the steroids era.

As of recent retirees, the player I put #1 is beanpole Randy Johnson. Had Johnson played in the NL during his entire career like Maddux, his stats would have been off of the charts. As it was, he posted an ERA+ of 156 in the NL despite not going to an NL team until he was 35. Maddux, on the other hand, allowed the AL to hit .280 against him in 32 decisions while yielding a rather pedestrian 3.88 ERA. Granted, Maddux is still in my top 5 ever for pitchers. But I have Randy ahead of him, even though their WAR numbers are nearly identical.

[dgarza]

Because as great as The Franchise was, he just isn't on the tip of fan's minds when voting for the greatest pitchers they've ever heard of. Hence Nolan Ryan being on that team.

Looking at the votes for the All Century Team, Seaver received only 38th most. 30 players made the Team. The fans voted for 25 of them. A separate panel selected 5 additional players to add to that.

[brett]

Looking at the votes for the All Century Team, Seaver received only 38th most. 30 players made the Team. The fans voted for 25 of them. A separate panel selected 5 additional players to add to that.

I think the players who were added were Wagner, Hornsby, Musial, Mathewson and maybe Speaker. Anyone know? Alexander, Seaver, Foxx, and Bonds were the most glaring omissions.

[dgarza]

I think the players who were added were Wagner, Hornsby, Musial, Mathewson and maybe Speaker. Anyone know? Alexander, Seaver, Foxx, and Bonds were the most glaring omissions.

I don't think Speaker made it. Frank Robinson was left off. Collins, Lajoie, or Morgan?

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Wasn't Nolan Ryan ranked the best pitcher of alltime on the all century team?

[SamtheBravesFan]

Wasn't Nolan Ryan ranked the best pitcher of alltime on the all century team?

He sure was. Topped Sandy Koufax by 21,606 votes.