Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens have been elected by BJOL readers as our representatives for 2012 class:
|
NAME
|
Votes
|
2013
|
|
Craig Biggio
|
100
|
97.1%
|
|
Mike Piazza
|
90
|
87.4%
|
|
Barry Bonds
|
85
|
82.5%
|
|
Roger Clemens
|
84
|
81.6%
|
They join our nine previous entrants:
2009 - Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Bert Blyleven, and Alan Trammell
2010 - Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, and Mark McGwire
2011 - Jeff Bagwell
2012- Edgar Martinez
This was a record turnout for the BJOL: we had a total of 103 votes cast. Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza finished ahead of Bonds and Clemens in the voting, which seems appropriate. A few voters mentioned that they were passing on Bonds and Clemens for this first ballot, presumably a punishment for steroid use.
But…I’m glad we’re not going to have to debate their candidacy anymore. Clemens and Bonds will eventually make the Hall of Fame – they’re too good not to be in – and the writers will get around to discussing the more interesting cases. I’m ready to move on.
Mike Piazza was selected in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft, as the 1390th player selected. With a nod to Josh Gibson and Johnny Bench, it is likely that Piazza is the best hitting catcher of all-time. I’m still not sure about that 1997 MVP vote….
Craig Biggio built his Hall-of-Fame career slowly: at thirty, his most comparable players included Barry Larkin and nine players unlikely the make the Hall (Jay Bell, Tony Fernandez, Julio Franco, and Orlando Cabrera). At thirty-five, his comparables included Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg, Barry Larkin, Paul Molitor, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker. He holds the (modern) record for being hit by a pitch, and has the NL record for leadoff homers.
The 50%-ers
|
NAME
|
Votes
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
|
Curt Schilling
|
56
|
54.4%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Larry Walker
|
51
|
49.5%
|
50%
|
23%
|
x
|
x
|
|
Rafael Palmeiro
|
50
|
48.5%
|
48%
|
33%
|
x
|
x
|
Three players tallied about 50% of the vote this year, which suggests a solid base of support. This was Curt Schilling’s first year on the ballot, and while he might get buried by the arrival of Maddux, Glavine, and Mussina in 2014, and Pedro and Smoltz in 2015, getting across 50% gives me some confidence that he’ll be elected. I have an article about Schilling that I need to get to.
Larry Walker posted a second vote hovering around the 50% mark, after starting at 23% during his first year. I was surprised by this….I figured that Walker’s jump last year was a result of a weak class, and this year’s strong class would knock him back a bit. That he stayed around 50% suggests that people are coming around on him.
Rafael Palmeiro, too, maintained the ground he gained last year. Again, I was surprised by this…I assumed that Raffy would lose some votes to some of the arrivals in 2013, but he did not.
-
Respectable Showing
|
NAME
|
Votes
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
|
Andre Dawson
|
40
|
38.8%
|
52%
|
18%
|
25%
|
21%
|
|
Sammy Sosa
|
34
|
33.0%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Fred McGriff
|
29
|
28.2%
|
36%
|
25%
|
18%
|
x
|
|
Kenny Lofton
|
26
|
25.2%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Kevin Brown
|
19
|
18.4%
|
24%
|
22%
|
x
|
x
|
The player who lost ground was Andre Dawson. Dawson is one of the players that the BBWAA have elected, who we haven’t elected. The other one is Jim Rice. I think that we’re right about Rice, but I hope we elect Dawson. I suspect that the dominant image that most people have of Dawson is the 1987 version: the sluggardly slugger who didn’t do a whole lot less except him homeruns. I wish that the earlier version of Dawson was remembered: the gifted played of 1980-1983, who won four Gold Gloves and averaged 28 HR and 31 steals per 162 games.
Fred McGriff decreased, while Sammy Sosa made a strong initial showing on the ballot. I wonder if these players are as drastically far apart as they appear: both players had two HR titles, both were mostly sluggers, and neither was really considered the very best power-hitter of their generation. Sosa’s years look significantly more dramatic, but they’re not too far off. I’d probably vote for Sosa ahead of McGriff, but it’s close.
Kenny Lofton made a strong first appearance on the ballot, netting a quarter of votes. When the ballot thins out, he could jump up. He’s an interesting case, one which relies significantly on advanced defensive metrics.
Kevin Brown declined a bit, and it’s possible that he’ll decline further when the crest of pitchers comes in 2014-15. But he has a solid base of support.
Hanging on the Ballot
|
NAME
|
Votes
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
|
Dale Murphy
|
11
|
10.7%
|
15%
|
15%
|
27%
|
17%
|
|
Bernie Williams
|
10
|
9.7%
|
18%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Jack Morris
|
9
|
8.7%
|
13%
|
22%
|
10%
|
10%
|
|
Lee Smith
|
8
|
7.8%
|
15%
|
40%
|
35%
|
14%
|
|
John Olerud
|
6
|
5.8%
|
18%
|
5%
|
x
|
x
|
Dale Murphy has lost ground, and is now hanging around 10%. He shares with Dawson a clear peak value, but his decline was fast. I started caring about baseball in the 1980’s, so I’m always pulling for the likes of Dawson, Murphy, Mattingly, and Gooden. My next write-in vote will be for Eric Davis.
Bernie Williams went from 18% to 10%....it’d be interesting to contrast him with Lofton. Lofton seems the kind of player sabermetric types are going to rally around, but I don’t know that he’s significantly better than Bernie. They seem an interesting pair to contrast….
Jack Morris is hanging on. He will struggle to survive the crush of pitchers.
Lee Smith remains the most interesting player, in terms of voting results. He had two good years on the ballot, netting 35 and 40% of the vote, but he’s lost ground precipitously since then. I voted for Smith once or twice, but on a crowded ballot, it is difficult to find a place for him. In a way, his case is the Jack Morris case: he might’ve been the best closer for a decade, but it was a) a thin crop of closers, and b) not really clear that he was exceptionally talented.
Finally…John Olerud. Reader ‘chuck’ cast the last ballot we counted. Chuck’s vote for Olerud pushed him over 5% (to 5.7%), which keeps Olerud on the ballot. Every vote counts.
Dropping from the Ballot
|
NAME
|
Votes
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
|
Jim Rice
|
4
|
3.9%
|
7%
|
10%
|
x
|
6%
|
|
Dave Parker
|
4
|
3.9%
|
11%
|
7%
|
15%
|
5%
|
|
David Wells
|
3
|
2.9%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Steve Finley
|
1
|
1.0%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Julio Franco
|
1
|
1.0%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
|
Ryan Klesko
|
1
|
1.0%
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
We’re losing the 1978 MVP’s….Jim Rice and Dave Parker have slipped below 5%. Parker had some traction with BJOL voters….he’s similar to Larry Walker, I suppose: a right fielder who could throw and run a bit. Parker’s mid-career decline probably kept him out of the Hall-of-Fame.
David Wells got three votes: I don’t see Wells as a drastically different pitcher than Jack Morris, in terms of career or peak value. His career WAR ranks ahead of a few Hall-of-Fame pitchers, including Waite Hoyt, Red Ruffing, and Early Wynn.
Steve Finley, Julio Franco, and Ryan Klesko each received one vote. Sentimental fools.
Reggie Sanders, Shawn Green, Jeff Cirillo, Woody Williams, Rondell White, Aaron Sele, Roberto Hernandez, Jeff Conine, Royce Clayton, Mike Stanton, Sandy Alomar, Jr., Jose Mesa, and Todd Walker received no votes.
Write-In Candidates
This was the inaugural year of the write-in vote: any player not in the current Hall-of-Fame is eligible for a write-in vote. The player who gets the most votes will appear on next year’s ballot. Here are the results:
|
Name
|
Write-In Votes
|
%
|
|
Lou Whitaker
|
16
|
45.7%
|
|
Pete Rose
|
5
|
14.3%
|
|
Keith Hernandez
|
4
|
11.4%
|
|
Bobby Grich
|
2
|
5.7%
|
|
Dwight Evans
|
2
|
5.7%
|
|
Minnie Minosa
|
2
|
5.7%
|
|
Ross Barnes
|
1
|
2.9%
|
|
Will Clark
|
1
|
2.9%
|
|
Don Mattingly
|
1
|
2.9%
|
|
Harry Stovey
|
1
|
2.9%
|
Lou Whitaker blew away the competition, netting 46% of the write-in vote. Pete Rose and Keith Hernandez made a charge for second place, but it was Sweet Lou’s moment. Next year, he’ll have the chance to join double-play partner Alan Trammell in our faux-Hall.
See you in 2014. Thanks for voting, everyone.
Dave Fleming is a writer living in Wellington, New Zealand. He welcomes comments, questions, and suggestions here and at dfleming1986@yahoo.com.