If everything goes according to plan, 2015’s Hall of Fame class (combined with last summer’s new members) might just be the best back-to-back induction classes in decades. All told, you’re looking at 17 newcomers joining 17 holdovers to create another potential record-setting ballot.
As you might recall, Craig Biggio missed joining Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas and Tom Glavine a year ago by just two votes. The multi-positioned star should get the two votes needed to gain enshrinement and, if he does, he’d be joining virtual locks Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez next July 26 on the lawn behind the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown.
Here’s your breakdown of the newcomers on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot.
IN.
Randy Johnson. With five Cy Young Awards, a no-hitter and a perfect game, Johnson is pretty much as safe a lock to end up in Cooperstown as anyone who ever toed the rubber. Add in 303 wins, 4875 strikeouts, a World Series ring and ten All-Star appearances and, yeah…it’ll be interesting to see what knuckleheads don’t believe he is worthy of going in on the first ballot.
Pedro Martinez. Once Martinez stopped playing around with comeback attempts and finally announced he was officially retired, everyone began debating…in or out? Martinez has a career .687 winning percentage, sub-3.00 ERA, three Cy Young Awards and is a Boston legend. Put him in…if only to hear the speech.
John Smoltz. Smoltz is a tricky one. At first glance, he doesn’t look like he has the numbers to make it to the Hall of Fame. That said, when you look deeper…he’s a pretty special player. In 2002 he became only the second pitcher (Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley is the other) to have had both a 20-win season and a 50-save season. The 1996 National League Cy Young award winner is also the only pitcher in major league history to top both 200 wins and 150 saves. Oh yeah, he was also just the 16th pitcher to surpass 3000 Ks for his career.
ON THE BUBBLE.
Gary Sheffield. It is amazing to me how polarizing Sheffield is. Me? I love the dude. A career .292 batting average, 509 home runs and close to 2700 hits…the man is a hitting machine and performed at just about every stop during his 22-year career. He’s “on the bubble” only because of the alleged company he kept.
OUT (in random order).
Nomar Garciaparra. Alright, reality check time. Garciaparra is one of my favorite players of all-time, so naturally…one would think that I would automatically pencil him in for a 2015 enshrinement. Unfortunately, his career numbers just aren’t good enough. He started his career alongside Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter and, arguably, overshadowed them at first. However, injuries plagued the Whittier, California native, whereas the other two are legends.
Carlos Delgado. Sitting 27 home runs shy of 500 for his career, with more than 2000 hits and 1500 RBI, Delgado is not that far from becoming the second player enshrined as a Toronto Blue Jay. But, unfortunately, it probably won’t happen.
Troy Percival. It’s pretty safe to say that I have a soft spot for closers. For years, I’ve been trumpeting the efforts of Lee Smith. That said, I can’t get behind Percival. His 358 saves (good for eighth all-time) is spectacular, but the dude never led the league and can’t really hold a candle to some of his contemporaries.
The others. Rich Aurilia, Aaron Boone, Tony Clark, Jermaine Dye, Darin Erstad, Cliff Floyd, Brian Giles, Tom Gordon, Eddie Guardado and Jason Schmidt.
The results of the BBWAA vote will be revealed January 6.
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