Baseball Hall Of Fame

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12/31/2006 1:33 am

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It's time for my fourth annual "If I had a Hall Of Fame Vote" post. Eligible candidates can be seen here.

A few reminders:
1. Voters can vote for up to ten players.
2. I'm a "Big Hall" guy so I voted for ten.
3. To be inducted, players need to be named on 75% of the ballots cast.
4. The real results will be announced on January 9th.

My Ballot
Bert Blyleven emoticon

Andre Dawson emoticon

Rich "Goose" Gossage emoticon

Tony Gwynn emoticon

Mark McGwire emoticon

Jack Morris emoticon

Jim Rice

Cal Ripken Jr. emoticon

Lee Smith

Alan Trammell emoticon

Dropped from last years ballot:
Bruce Sutter (elected)
Steve Garvey
Tommy John

Added from last years ballot (all first time eligible):
Tony Gwynn
Mark McGwire
Cal Ripken Jr.

	Matt - Washington Bureau Chief 12/31/2006 @ 03:26:54 AM
I decided to assign emoticons to each player I voted for. Some fit better than others, and some are a bit of a stretch, but bonus points to anyone who can come up with the relationships I had in mind. Also, if you think you can do better, assign your own emoticons to any or all of the players on my ballot (or your own if you feel like making one).		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/31/2006 @ 04:16:18 PM
shoulder shrug for Blyleven because he's relatively unknown Dawson played outfield for the Cubs thus the brick wall Gossage is always Wario when he plays Mariokart (or this from wikipedia "wild facial hair and a gruff demeanor") Gwynn was chubby like cartman McGwire took supplements at the least Morris played for the Twins Rice has a potty mouth? Jr is a Jr Smith was a stopper Trammell needs major help if he's going to make it in since his best year out of 5 was 17%		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/31/2006 @ 05:13:35 PM
Cal Ripken Jr Tony Gwynn Mark McGwire Jack Morris Bert Blyleven -- his emoticon represents "Why isn't he in the Hall already?!?" I'm only voting for those 5		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Matt - Washington Bureau Chief 01/01/2007 @ 12:27:28 AM
Scott is right about the Blyleven emoticon. Alex is pretty much spot on for the other 9. Expanding on what he said for 3 of them: Gossage actually uses Luigi when he plays Mario Kart, but he just looks like Wario to me (wild facial hair and a gruff demeanor is a good description). Rice was apparently known for being a bit surly with the press, and Trammell indeed needs some people to start fighting for his induction as he is certainly worthy, but is overshadowed in people's minds by Ripken and Ozzie Smith.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Matt edited this 2 times, last at 01/01/2007 12:28:33 am

	Jeremy - The pig says "My wife is a slut?" 01/01/2007 @ 01:14:34 AM
Bert Blyleven - Doesn't know when he's on air and when he's not. Andre Dawson - Is a known to be a complete idiot and anyone who is forced to have more than a 5 minute conversation with him wants to bludgeon themselves do death with the nearest hard object. Rich "Goose" Gossage - Was known as a villian in many MLB circles until he spun off his image into several friendlier versions. Tony Gwynn - Hates Jews and once tricked Steve Finley into eating his parents. Mark McGwire - Retired from baseball after becoming a world renown medical Doctor, specializing in the treatment of 3 specific viruses. Jack Morris - Schizophrenic Jim Rice - Succumb to a tragic battle with tourette's. Cal Ripken Jr. - Had to register as a known pedophile in 2004. Lee Smith - Is a 350 pound, female, Jerry Springer guest. Alan Trammell - Is suicidally depressed and several times has come close to jumping off a building, senselessly.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.
Jeremy edited this 4 times, last at 01/01/2007 1:21:41 am

	Matt - 3945 Posts 01/09/2007 @ 01:41:20 PM
2007 Voting Results A few notes: Ripken and Gwynn are inducted as expected, McGwire left out. Goose Gossage comes close (71%) and should make it in next year. Blyleven (and others) see their votes decline due to the presence of Ripken and Gwynn on the ballot. Trammell continues to be overlooked by many.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Matt screwed with this at 01/09/2007 1:42:15 pm

	Jeremy - 9547 Posts 01/09/2007 @ 01:44:39 PM
I'm surprised by the McGwire thing. Edit: Also that only 2 players made it period.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this at 01/09/2007 1:49:45 pm

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/09/2007 @ 04:06:30 PM
The thing with McGwire: Most of the people who didn't vote for him most likely did so on the basis of his potential steriod use. One person even turned in an empty ballot because he would not vote on a player who played during the steriod era. I have a little bit of respect for the empty ballot voter, but for those who did not vote for McGwire based on suspicion I have very little respect for. Either you assume everyone is clean, or you assume everyone is false. McGwire probably took something illegal. However, when he played, steriods were not tested like they are today, and the penalties were not as harsh. McGwire also has never failed a steriods test. So for the people who didn't vote for him, why didn't you assume that Tony Gwinn took steriods too? It's a good thing most of the voters had the correct sense to vote for McGwire, because if a player falls around 15% he is eliminated from the ballot. McGwire deserves the hall.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 01/09/2007 @ 04:26:58 PM
This actually reminds me of David Spade's skit in SNL: Spade: Will everyone elected to this years Hall of Fame class please step forward. Not so fast Mark McGwire.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - I was too weak to give in Too strong to lose 01/09/2007 @ 06:57:44 PM
It's 5%, but I agree with your point. I think he'll make it in eventually. Who voted for Jay Buhner? Did they use butterfly ballots or something?		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 3 times.

	Jeremy - Pie Racist 01/10/2007 @ 02:33:17 PM
Blyleven stays patient, positive		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - On your mark...get set...Terrible! 01/11/2007 @ 10:16:24 AM
It's interesting to note, responding to an earlier comment by Jeremy, that it is possible for nobody to get into the Hall of Fame a certain year. It's simply a 75% vote needed. So next year, there likely aren't any obvious first time ballot candidates (that I can think of), and the players that fell short seemed quite short. It's possible that nobody gets elected next year. Not likely however, I think McGwire will get elected, and I simply don't think that 0 elects is going to happen. I just wanted to point out that it is possible.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Washington Bureau Chief 01/11/2007 @ 12:54:04 PM
Tim "Rock" Raines is the only player of note that will be newly eligible next year, and while he deserves to be elected, he almost certainly won't be. This is good news, however, for Goose Gossage and the rest of the holdovers with any kind of support (Rice , Dawson , Blyleven ) as their votes will probably go up. I predict Gossage gets in next year and maybe Rice. McGwire should also see his tally rise as I'd guess some of the writers were just imposing a one year "punishment" on him this year, but I don't think it will be nearly enough for him to be elected (I'd guess he jumps up to the 40-50% range).		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - 3945 Posts 01/11/2007 @ 01:02:06 PM
Just to clarify, by getting 71% on a ballot with two no-brainers on it this year, Gossage is practically a lock to get in next year, especially since it is a "weaker" ballot.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 01/11/2007 @ 10:16:24 PM
I was watching a show on the History channel about cocaine, and people used to use it all the time. Frued once thought of it as a wonder drug, it was in all sorts of health tonics, and people would knowingly use it much the same way that people use caffeine and energy drinks today. They even specifically mentioned that baseball players used it but it would get them kicked out of baseball today. Maybe the Hall of Fame voters need to reevaluate the "cocaine era".		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 3447 Posts 01/13/2007 @ 03:55:56 PM
The Tim Raines icon is of course because it looks like the RBI baseball Tim Raines who played on the National League team. I'm assuming.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - 3945 Posts 08/02/2007 @ 09:16:07 PM
Matt Wrote - 01/11/2007 @ 12:54:04 PM Tim "Rock" Raines is the only player of note that will be newly eligible next year, and while he deserves to be elected, he almost certainly won't be. Alex Wrote - 01/11/2007 @ 10:16:24 PM I was watching a show on the History channel about cocaine, and people used to use it all the time. Frued once thought of it as a wonder drug, it was in all sorts of health tonics, and people would knowingly use it much the same way that people use caffeine and energy drinks today. They even specifically mentioned that baseball players used it but it would get them kicked out of baseball today. Maybe the Hall of Fame voters need to reevaluate the "cocaine era". I was thinking some about the hall of fame, and decided to look over this thread once again, and reading Alex's comment reminded me of something that I meant to post awhile ago, but never got around to doing. Anyway, one of my favorite "facts" about Tim Raines, is that during the 80's (when he was using), he always slid headfirst into bases in order to keep from breaking the vial of cocaine he kept in his back pocket.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.