They come completely by accident, but every few years, the Hall of Fame throws us a year where they can play catch up.
In recent years, the Hall took a breather so guys like Carlton Fisk and Tony Perez (2000), Bruce Sutter (2006) and, most recently, Goose Gossage (2008) could take their place among the immortals.
Well…2012 will be no different as there is not a soul among the first ballot guys who belongs.
IN.
None.
OUT (in random order).
Javy Lopez.
A while back I would’ve made the argument that Lopez was on his way to something. Then, well…I am not sure what happened to the guy. He ended his career with a respectable .287 batting average and 260 home runs.
Ruben Sierra.
20 years ago, Sierra was, along with Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Pete Incaviglia, THE future of baseball and you would have been hard pressed to find anyone to agree with you. Now, after 306 home runs and 1322 RBI…he’s an interesting footnote to an era that has long since passed.
Vinny Castilla.
Was Castilla a very good third baseman or another one of those who was helped by the much ballyhooed Coors Effect? Both?!? Any way you slice it, his 320 home runs and near perfect hair doesn’t get him through the doors of Cooperstown without a paying first.
1993 American League Rookie of the Year Tim Salmon, Brad Radke, Edgardo Alfonzo, Scott Erickson, Jeff Fassero, Joe Randa, Jeromy Burnitz, Eric Young, Brian Jordan, Bill Mueller, Matt Lawton, Jose Hernandez, Phil Nevin, Alex S. Gonzalez, Pedro Astacio, Carl “the Bible never says anything about dinosaurs” Everett, David Bell, Rick Helling, Jose Vizcaino, Terry Mulholland, Jeff Nelson, Danny Graves and Dustin Hermanson.
ON THE BUBBLE.
Bernie Williams.
So, I’ll be honest…I through Bernie on this list to please some of the Yankees fans that I know bump around the HOVG. Here’s the thing with Williams…if it’s not likely that the Yankees will retire his number, it isn’t likely the Hall will welcome him. Sure, his .297 career batting average, eight straight seasons of .300 or more, 2336 hits and 22 post season home runs are things of recent Yankee legend…they are nothing but a blip on the radar of what gets mentioned alongside the names of those in Cooperstown.
2010, 2011 and now 2012 are in the books. On the horizon…2013 and 2014. Then, if everything works out in my favor…something special for Friday.
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