(original oil-wax by Opie Otterstad, 2004) Will Craig Biggio make it into the HOF his first year?
The following is the alphabetical list of those former players who are now eligible for 2013 induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. All any of them has to do to get there is to receive 75% support from the 600 voters who represent the deciding deity as The Baseball Writers Association of America. (BBWAA).
The rules for judging candidates are not tied to specific statistical accomplishments. Voting baseball writers are instructed to judge each candidate on ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contribution to the team or teams on which he played — as well as to baseball in general.
So, how are things stacking up this year, in Craig Biggio’s first eligible year on the ballot?
Well, most of these eligible names are on the ballot for the first time, but a few have sustained enough hanger-on votes over the years to be headed into their 13th to 15th seasons on the ballot. And, of course, there are several players with impeccably incredible stats that are only missing out because of their association with the steroids-enhanced era in recent MLB history. I’ve taken the liberty of bold-face typing the names of those so effected in my own mind. Your own steroids-era list may vary from mine – and that’s just one of the problems the actual voters face. Without convictions of offense, the worst-publicized players are drawing attention for lies and arrogance that could be keeping the spotlight away from others who have been better able to avoid the sear of the spotlight.
Here’s the list of 2013 eligible HOF candidates, with my list of steroids-smeared, not convicted, candidates shown in bold type:
Sandy Alomar, Jr, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Jeff Cirillo, Royce Clayton, Roger Clemens, Jeff Conine, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Roberto Hernandez, Ryan Klesko, Kenny Lofton, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jose Mesa, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Rafael Palmeiro, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Reggie Sanders, Curt Schilling, Aaron Sele, Lee Smith, Sammy Sosa, Mike Stanton, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker, Todd Walker, David Wells, Rondell White, Bernie Williams, and Woodie Williams.
If you were one of the “godlies” this year, who would you pick? – And who would you leave out, for cause?
Tags: 2013 Hall of Fame Vote
The Pecan Park Eagle 
November 29, 2012 at 3:18 pm |
Woodie Williams? Give me a break. A few years ago I would’ve argued that Biggio was marginal but he did hang on long enough to get 3,000 hits. Along with the doubles, steals, and years played for the same team (and versatility) I now think he’s a lock. And given this year’s field I think he has a good shot at first ballot. Put him in. Clemens should go in on first ballot in my opinion. I’ve posted my logic previously: Clemens was charged with lying before Congress. The lie was supposed to be that “I never did performance-enhancing drugs.” He was acquitted of lying before Congress, therefore, he was acquited of allegations of drug use. Let the man in. Again, IMHO, no one else on this list deserves enshrinement ever. And though I can’t stand unions, Marvin Miller should be in if Bowie Kuhn is. In fact, put the two side-by-side for eternity. They deserve each other. Also, repeating myself-there are too many marginal players in the hall. Limit the number to, say, 150 players (only players). When one goes in, one goes out.
November 29, 2012 at 3:39 pm |
Barry Bonds actually does have a felony conviction for obstruction of justice, which he’s seeking to have removed.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7888055/barry-bonds-files-appeal-erase-felony-conviction
Palmeiro had a dirty drug test. McGwire has openly admitted to his PED use. Sosa (and A-Rod) had the same legal sources for their useage: the Dominican Republic, where the PEDs they used aren’t (or weren’t) illegal.
I’m not aware of how Piazza is tainted, other than by internet rumor, but perhaps others know of a more direct basis for the association.
And Jeff Bagwell is on record as saying he will experience no honor upon being elected to the Hall of Fame if his admitted, convicted, and/or positively tested peers should fail to get in and then think less of him if for getting in.
And I certainly wouldn’t want to see Bagwell receive an honor he doesn’t value and doesn’t want.
It will be interesting to see what the BBWAA writers do.
November 29, 2012 at 4:00 pm |
I like Biggio on the first ballot. Sunshine kids (character issue), 3,000 hits, all time leader in doubles for a right handed hitter. 5th all time. I would like to see Bagwell go in with him. He played baseball smart and hard, to go along with stats.
McGwire admitted his drug use at the time he used them. Reporters used to write about what he was taking. It was all freely discussed and written about in the sports pages long before the congressional hearings. (Waxman could have just researched it rather than waste taxpayer money!) But not certain Mark is HOF material.
Schilling and Martinez would get my vote, along with Clemens and Piazza. Like McGwire, I’d have to pass on Bonds, Sosa and Palmiero.
I’d need to do a little more research on Jack Morris, Fred McGriff and
Dale Murphy. Each of these had some strong seasons.
November 29, 2012 at 4:01 pm |
Sticking to your question – I would think Biggio and Piazza get in. I would like to see Dale Murphy and Larry Walker get in but don’t think they will as the numbers just don’t warrent it.
November 29, 2012 at 4:22 pm |
Bonds, Clemens and Sosa won’t be voted in on the first ballot because of the taint. Schilling won’t get in on the first ballot because he campaigned for Bush. McGwire and Palmeiro won’t get in at all.
My totally wild guess list of inductees for 2013 will be Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza and Jack Morris. I don’t see Bagwell making the complete leap this year.
November 30, 2012 at 7:34 am |
Jack Morris has a career ERA+ of 105, which ranks him – amongst all pitchers in the history of major league baseball – somewhere between the 478th and the 528th best ERA+ in MLB history. His WAR of 39.3 ranks him 145th amongst all pitchers in MLB history. I’m working on finding his career rank in Win Shares Above Bench (WSAB). There are 68 pitchers in the Hall of Fame. How would we fit Morris in there? I see only one sure inductee on this ballot – Craig Biggio.
November 30, 2012 at 3:01 pm |
Raines, Piazza and McGriff (widely acknowledged to have been steroid free) are among my picks, but my final candidate has been underrated and unrespected by the voters.
Compare Alan Trammell’s stats and career to Barry Larkin’s. Expect for the stolen bases (advantage Larkin), they are as identical as a hamburger and a ground beef patty sandwich.
November 30, 2012 at 4:47 pm |
Morris ranked as the 123rd best pitcher in MLB history in WSAB.