The big story this entire Hall of Fame “season” was, simply, how much of a unanimous selection was Ken Griffey Jr. going to be.
And on Wednesday, Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame revealed the vote totals and with 99.3% of the vote (437 of 440 ballots), Junior seemingly fulfilled his birthright and will see his rightful place in Cooperstown.
In 1992, Tom Seaver got the highest percentage of any vote (98.84%) after being left off just five ballots, beating out Ty Cobb’s longstanding best of 98.23%. Nolan Ryan (98.79% in 1999) and Cal Ripken Jr. (98.53% in 2007) would end up surpassing Cobb as well.
Also making the grade…longtime catching great Mike Piazza, who went from 69.9% in 2015 to 83.0% this year. Both Jeff Bagwell (71.6%) and Tim Raines (69.8%), a guy who should’ve been in years ago, just missed the 75% needed for induction.
Joining the four new inductees on July 24 at the Clark Sports Center…Ford C. Frick Award winner Graham McNamee and The J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient Dan Shaughnessy.
Here’s the breakdown among the top vote getters.
- Ken Griffey Jr. (99.3%, first time on ballot)
- Mike Piazza (83.0%, 69.9% last year)
- Jeff Bagwell (71.6%, 55.7%)
- Tim Raines (69.8%, 55.0%)
- Trevor Hoffman (67.3%, first time on ballot)
- Curt Schilling (52.3%, 39.2%)
- Roger Clemens (45.2%, 37.5%)
- Barry Bonds (44.3%, 36.8%)
- Edgar Martinez (43.4%, 27.0%)
- Mike Mussina (43.0%, 24.6%)
- Alan Trammell (40.9%, 25.1%)
- Lee Smith (34.1%, 30.2%)
- Fred McGriff (20.9%, 12.9%)
- Jeff Kent (16.6%, 14.0%)
- Larry Walker (15.5%, 11.8%)
- Mark McGwire (12.3%, 10.0%)
- Gary Sheffield (11.6%, 11.7%)
- Billy Wagner (10.5%, first time on ballot)
To see how actual numbers stacked up against the much hyped 2016 Hall of Fame Ballot Collecting Gizmo…click HERE.
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