The 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

[cardsfan111]

Noticed a few writers had commented that the ballots for the upcoming election have been sent to them. It's been known for some time that this ballot is loaded. Many good candidates remain from previous years. In addition, this year will feature many new names. Several of these players carry extra baggage--being implicated or simply playing in an era when PED usage was at a peak.

The question--Who would you vote for if you had the ballot in your hand?

The rules are the same for you, as it is for the writers. You can only vote for a maximum of 10 players. Also, if you want to predict who you actually think will be voted in, that's fine. But the poll is for your personal picks.

My apologies to the friends and family of Shawn Green, Steve Finley, Roberto Hernandez, Jeff Cirillo, Jose Valentin, Reggie Sanders, Jeff Conine, Jose Mesa, Royce Clayton, Bob Wickman, Ryan Klesko, Aaron Sele, Woody Williams, Rondell White, Mike Lieberthal, Tony Batista, Mike Stanton, Sandy Alomar Jr., Damian Miller and Todd Walker. If you want to cast a vote for any of them, I left you an "other" option in the poll.

[Goat3001]

Piazza, Biggio and Bagwell deserve to get in.

I'm giving my nod to all the proven roiders... Bonds, Clemens, Sosa and Mac welcome to the Hall.

And then I'm giving in my home picks... Mattingly, Bernie Williams and Boomer Wells.

[shizawn]

Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Raines.

Ahh, blah. I missed Piazza. Him too.

[Howie2000]

YES
Clemens
Biggio
Raines
Bagwell
Bonds

yes
McGwire,Sosa,Palmeiro,Piazza
NO
Schilling-Only because he is a dick so he should wait for a 2nd ballot like Alomar would vote yes to him in his 2nd year

Everyone else No

[Mikael79]

Jack Morris should get in this time.

[wm lopez]

Originally Posted by Howie2000

YES

Schilling-Only because he is a dick so he should wait for a 2nd ballot like Alomar would vote yes to him in his 2nd year

Everyone else No

Some punishment he gets in the 2nd year.
Nobody gets in my book except Biggio and only cause his ass got the 3,000 hits.

[davidh777]

I respect Biggio for the numbers he put up, his "gamer" image, and the multiple positions he played, but I'm a little meh on him as a HOFer. It seems like he's getting a lot of traction for being a perceived "clean" player.

[Osiris3657]

Originally Posted by davidh777

I respect Biggio for the numbers he put up, his "gamer" image, and the multiple positions he played, but I'm a little meh on him as a HOFer. It seems like he's getting a lot of traction for being a perceived "clean" player.

Seriously...? You mean that little 5'11", 185lb second baseman who's biggest power output was 26 HRs? That guy was roiding?

Here's why Biggio is a unanimous 1st ballot HoFer

Biggio is the only player in MLB history to record 3,000 hits, 600 doubles, 250 homers, 400 stolen bases.

[davidh777]

Originally Posted by Osiris3657

Seriously...? You mean that little 5'11", 185lb second baseman who's biggest power output was 26 HRs? That guy was roiding?

Here's why Biggio is a unanimous 1st ballot HoFer

Biggio is the only player in MLB history to record 3,000 hits, 600 doubles, 250 homers, 400 stolen bases.

I respect the numbers he compiled, and I'm sure he's going to get in first ballot, but the first unanimous player seems a little over the top to me.

And by "perceived," I didn't mean that I think he was juicing. I should have said that people will give him extra credit because they think he's only of the only top players of the era who was clean.

[Decker]

I said yes to:
Bonds
Biggio
Clemens
Piazza
Schilling

I understand why some won't vote for the 'roiders and I'm okay with that, but for me Bonds and Clemens were clearly HoF-bound before the steroid era, so I'm okay with voting them in first-ballot. McGuire, Sosa and Palmero probably needed the juice to make their HoF case, so NO to them.

[Osiris3657]

Also a 4 time Gold Glover at 2B. I'm not saying he's the greatest 2nd Baseman ever, but he's without a top a 1st ballot HoFer.

Jeff Bagwell also belongs in the HoF. Since he was a power hitter in the 90's he's a perceived juicer but no evidence or failed tests have come out.

It would be fitting that two guys who spent their entire careers together go in the Hall of Fame together.

I'm sure most baseball fans have heard of Bill James, a very respected baseball historian/analyst. He argues Bagwell is one of the top 5 1st basemen ever.

[davidh777]

I do know who Bill James is, and I would vote for Bagwell just so I could watch his sweet swing on the HOF announcement news.

[Flashback]

Biggio - easy
Piazza - meh but looking at it from his position
Schilling - Maybe not this time but will at some time.

Would love Raines as that would make 3 HOF autographs I have in an Expos Yearbook I got ('83 or so) when I was a kid at a game (Carter and Dawson). Too funny that I still have it.

For the obvious I will not entertain Bonds/Clemens/Mac/Sosa but alas it is not my vote just my personal opinion.

Ah I see Bags is up too. Since he did not get caught (but seriously folks) he should get in soon as well.

[LurkerDan]

Originally Posted by Decker

I understand why some won't vote for the 'roiders and I'm okay with that, but for me Bonds and Clemens were clearly HoF-bound before the steroid era, so I'm okay with voting them in first-ballot. McGuire, Sosa and Palmero probably needed the juice to make their HoF case, so NO to them.

Agree, but I couldn't bring myself to vote for Clemens because I can't stand him.

I went with:

Bonds
Piazza
Martinez
Raines
Trammell

[Drexl]

It will be very interesting to see the vote totals. Biggio is the only one I see definitely getting in next year, with probably about 93-95% of votes.

I think Bonds and Clemens make it eventually because of what Decker said about them presumably being HOFers before they are thought to have started using. The writers seem to be fixated on the integrity of the numbers rather than punishing steroid users, so guys they feel would have been HOFers without them will get in. I don't think they get in on the first ballot, but we'll see.

I don't know about Piazza because Bagwell didn't get in. I think they're not sure yet about the steroid-era power hitters, and they want to wait and see if more information comes out. Tim Raines should get in, but if he hasn't gotten the support by now, who knows when?

I'm lukewarm on Schilling, and I could see him falling short for one year at least.

[nickdawgy]

If McGwire hasn't got in yet, why should Bonds? Because McGwire admitted it and Bonds still denies it, or because he has the records?

[Drexl]

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

If McGwire hasn't got in yet, why should Bonds? Because McGwire admitted it and Bonds still denies it, or because he has the records?

It seems that the position many writers are taking isn't to disqualify anyone for using steroids on principle. It's more about how their numbers were affected and asking if they would be HOFers had they never done steroids. I don't know how many HRs you take off from McGwire's total to adjust, but let's say it's 100-150 of them, leaving him with about 400-450 HRs. He was a one-dimensional player, and after adjustment he doesn't really measure up.

Bonds, on the other hand, could have still hit 550 HRs, at least, without steroids (assuming he started when they think he started). Clemens could get in just from his Boston years.

Some writers will take the stance that anyone known to use, or at least strongly suspected to use, should not get in. But, they seem to be a minority and I believe Bonds and Clemens will eventually get 75%.

[B.A.]

Originally Posted by Mikael79

Jack Morris should get in this time.

Free Jack!

[WCChiCubsFan]

It's pretty obvious Bags was using.

All the proof you need is his last season after everything hit the fan. He was just a shadow of his former self when he showed up the next spring.

[emachine]

Bagwell probably was using, but you need some kind of proof beyond stats.

If you take his stats at face value, he's one of the greatest all around 1B ever. Surprised at the lack of support for him on this thread.

[Decker]

Originally Posted by emachine

Bagwell probably was using, but you need some kind of proof beyond stats.

If you take his stats at face value, he's one of the greatest all around 1B ever. Surprised at the lack of support for him on this thread.

Yeah, well if you choose to ignore the steroid users, accused, suspected and admitted (Hi, Mark McGwire!), you've got the best power hitter of the 50 years, the most dominant starting pitcher in decades, maybe the best power-hitting catcher ever and arguably the best second baseman of the era all on the ballot before you even get to Bags. You can't ask voters to ignore steroid allegations against one player and punish others. And if you take 'em all regardless of steroid use, this is probably the one of best ballots since the initial or second class of inductees.

[PhantomStranger]

Piazza is the Babe Ruth of catchers, there is no one in the same ballpark as him in hitting. He's basically a standard deviation better in adjusted hitting performance than every other catcher in the history of the game. He would have been a borderline Hall Of Famer...if his position had been first base. If he doesn't get in, the voters have to believe he was using steroids.

[emachine]

Originally Posted by Decker

Yeah, well if you choose to ignore the steroid users, accused, suspected and admitted (Hi, Mark McGwire!), you've got the best power hitter of the 50 years, the most dominant starting pitcher in decades, maybe the best power-hitting catcher ever and arguably the best second baseman of the era all on the ballot before you even get to Bags. You can't ask voters to ignore steroid allegations against one player and punish others. And if you take 'em all regardless of steroid use, this is probably the one of best ballots since the initial or second class of inductees.

With the exception of Biggio and Piazza, there is far less evidence Bagwell used compared to Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, and obviously Mcgwire who admitted to using steroids.

[Quake1028]

Jeff Bagwell
Craig Biggio
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Mike Piazza
Tim Raines

[whoopdido]

No roid player should get in until Pete Rose gets in.