Now that the dust has settled and Cooperstown is done playing host its biggest Hall of Fame induction class since 1955, when Joe DiMaggio headlined a stage of four inductees…we can focus on 2016!
After back-to-back years of outstanding first ballot candidates, the potential Class of 2016 might bring it all back down to Earth. That is, of course, if you exclude “The Kid”.
However it all shakes out, 2016 looks to be the third year in a row that someone could argue a unanimous selection. And while no one will ever get 100% of the vote (Randy Johnson did come kinda close)…it’s hard to believe that anyone would not vote for Ken Griffey Jr., right?
Here’s your first ballot-eligible candidates for the Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
IN.
Ken Griffey Jr. When Griffey finally gets into the Hall of Fame, it’ll be the final step of an epic journey that started on Opening Day 1989. But what can be said about Junior that you don’t already know? 630 career home runs, 1836 RBI and 2781 hits pretty much make him a shoe-in. And if that isn’t good enough…how about ten Gold Gloves, 13 All-Star Game appearances and that 1997 American League MVP award? Yeah…thought so.
Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman is a tricky one. Yes, dude is second all-time in saves, but the Hall of Fame has been unkind to some other closers (Lee Smith, anyone?). That said, I have a feeling that Hoffman and his 601 saves will make their way to Cooperstown.
Garret Anderson. The Angels’ franchise leader in just about every offensive category at the time of his retirement, Anderson quietly put together one of the better careers of the last 20 years. That said, there’s no way dude gets into the Hall of Fame. Simply put, while his .293 batting average, 2529 career hits and 522 doubles are the mark of a great career…there are too many others that fared much better.
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