2013 MLB Hall of Fame nominations

[George H Ruth]

The ballot was released today, with Bonds, Clemens, Sosa and Biggio leading the first-timers:

http://bbwaa.com/

First-timers:
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Craig Biggio
Barry Bonds
Jeff Cirillo
Royce Clayton
Roger Clemens
Jeff Conine
Steve Finley
Julio Franco
Shawn Green
Roberto Hernandez
Ryan Klesko
Kenny Lofton
Jose Mesa
Mike Piazza
Reggie Sanders
Curt Schilling
Aaron Sele
Sammy Sosa
Mike Stanton
Larry Walker
David Wells
Rondell White
Woody Williams

Returning to the ballot:
Jeff Bagwell
Edgar Martinez
Don Mattingly
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Dale Murphy
Rafael Palmeiro
Tim Raines
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
Todd Walker
Bernie Williams

Discuss.

[Ben Grimm]

Could we have dual Astros getting in this year? It would be a nice story for the fans after all the stuff they had to go thru the past year.

[Freakshow]

First-timers:
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Craig Biggio
Barry Bonds
Jeff Cirillo
Royce Clayton
Roger Clemens
Jeff Conine
Steve Finley
Julio Franco
Shawn Green
Roberto Hernandez
Ryan Klesko
Kenny Lofton
Jose Mesa
Mike Piazza
Reggie Sanders
Curt Schilling
Aaron Sele
Sammy Sosa
Mike Stanton
Larry Walker
David Wells
Rondell White
Woody Williams

Wow, 24 newbies, the most to ever get passed through by the ballot screening committee.

And the man who isn't there...

FREE EL DUQUE!

[Captain Cold Nose]

I'm very curious to see how Kenny Lofton and Larry Walker do.

[Ben Grimm]

If I had a ballot, this is how I'd go...

1st - Bonds
2nd - Clemens
3rd - Bagwell
4th - Biggio
5th - Piazza
6th - Raines
7th - Walker
8th - Lofton
9th - Schilling
10th - Mattingly

It surely would be called out since I'm going with two known users. But, I'm thinking 40-50 years from now (when I'm long dead), people will understand the times. What I mean by that is everybody likes Tris Speaker, yet he was a known member of the KKK - separation can be a person's friend.

[toomanyhatz]

Bonds, Bagwell and Biggio are the most deserving there, but only one of them will get in.

Schilling probably will too, and while I admit to my distaste for the man personally, have to admit that my views on how deserving he is have evolved to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing him in. I'll probably groan a few times during his acceptance speech, though.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Holy smokes, the next 3-4 classes are loaded. you are going to end up with 20 great candidates backlogged on some ballots in a few years.

[Ben Grimm]

Holy smokes, the next 3-4 classes are loaded. you are going to end up with 20 great candidates backlogged on some ballots in a few years.

Maddux next year, right?

[PVNICK]

Craig Biggio
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Kenny Lofton
Mike Piazza
Curt Schilling
Larry Walker

Returning to the ballot:

Jeff Bagwell
Edgar Martinez
Fred McGriff
Tim Raines
Alan Trammell
Bernie Williams

somhow I would have to winnow. Maybe, I'm being childish on Palmeiro, and Sosa in not looking at then as numbers on a piece of paper, but the level jumps took them from solid starting, but not middle of the order, hitter at non-defensive positions to what they are. At any rate when I rated them straigth they didn't make top 15 or so all-time at their respective positions. McGwire is a bit better but he had a four full season career pre mid 90s.

I prefer to put in the guys already there just because they have already been waiting not out of any first ballot theory. But if I had to cut it would be: Lofton, Bernie, and maybe Schilling.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Maddux next year, right?

Maddux, Thomas, Glavine, Mussina, Kent in 2014
Pedro, Randy, Smoltz, Sheffield in 2015.

So the next three ballots will include: Biggio, Bonds, Piazza, Clemens, Schilling, Sosa, Maddux, Glavine, Kent, Mussina, F. Thomas, Pedro, Randy, Smoltz, Sheffield, Martinez, McGwire, Palmerio, Raines, Trammel, Walker, and other guys who garner at least some support, such as McGriff, Morris, Lofton, Mattingly. L. Smith, and more. Griffey in 2016.

Those candidates perceived to be borderline or marginal will have to wait a long time to get in.

[Ben Grimm]

Maddux, Thomas, Glavine, Mussina, Kent in 2014
Pedro, Randy, Smoltz, Sheffield in 2015.

So the next three ballots will include: Biggio, Bonds, Piazza, Clemens, Schilling, Sosa, Maddux, Glavine, Kent, Mussina, F. Thomas, Pedro, Randy, Smoltz, Sheffield, Martinez, McGwire, Palmerio, Raines, Trammel, Walker, and other guys who garner at least some support, such as McGriff, Morris, Lofton, Mattingly. L. Smith, and more. Griffey in 2016.

Those candidates perceived to be borderline or marginal will have to wait a long time to get in.

Yikes. It's like a who's who of greatness from the mid-90s thru mid-00s.

Maddux is automatic next year, so one of this year's overlooks should get in then. Following year, Unit's in but I can see arguments for the rest. Then Griffey the following year who'll get in. The way votes go, a few bottom feeders still garner votes from hometown writers or those with and issue and such. With the names on this year's list, along with the next couple of years, there should be no Cirillo-types getting votes. Nothing against Jeff, but come on. Anybody voting on those type players should lose their eligibility imo in favor of more unbiased voters.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Yikes. It's like a who's who of greatness from the mid-90s thru mid-00s.

Maddux is automatic next year, so one of this year's overlooks should get in then. Following year, Unit's in but I can see arguments for the rest. .

Unless Glavine and Mussina both get in first year too. I think Pedro will get 1st ballot as well.

[Ben Grimm]

Unless Glavine and Mussina both get in first year too. I think Pedro will get 1st ballot as well.

I'd vote for Pedro, but I'm not sure the voters will. IMO, his 5-year peak was as good as anybody, but he just wasn't known to the baseball community until too late. There'll be arguments why he didn't get in, and we'll likely agree with them all, but casual fans (as well as writers) remember the "yankees are my daddee" or whatever it was as well as the nationally-televised game when he was left in by Grady during the ALCS or ALDS and took the loss. Unfortunately, those instances got so much press that I think he'll end up waiting a few years to get in.

[dgarza]

Wow, that's 8513 HRs right there! 13 guys in the 300 HR Club. A ballot record?

[Ben Grimm]

Wow, that's 8513 HRs right there! 13 guys in the 300 HR Club. A ballot record?

I remember watching the game Mike Schmidt hit his 300th... was either against the Mets or Pirates - get fuzzy now. But me and my friend were talking at the time about the odds of making the HOF with 400 HRs. 500 was in the window, but back then a longshot. Now shortstops need to hit near 300 HRs to get automatic acceptance into the Hall.