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Hall of Fame: Just One Slam-Dunk Each of Next Three Years

By Matt Veasey

Aug 14, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Mariano Rivera (right) along with Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada (left ) with his plaque during his dedication ceremony before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Shultz-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Mariano Rivera (right) along with Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada (left ) with his plaque during his dedication ceremony before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Shultz-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

2018 BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BALLOT

There are a handful of players who enter the Baseball Hall of Fame voting process a year from now who I believe should be enshrined. But most of these will not become first ballot Hall of Famers.

Leading this group is shortstop Omar Vizquel, an 11x Gold Glove Award winner. Over his 24-year career, Vizquel played more games (2,709) at the shortstop position than anyone in big league history.

Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; They built a statue for Thome in Cleveland, and it is just a matter of time before he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; They built a statue for Thome in Cleveland, and it is just a matter of time before he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Another is affable slugger Jim Thome. A fan favorite everywhere he played, Thome has been enshrined by both the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies in their team halls of fame. ‘Big Jim’ bashed 612 home runs over his 22-year career.

It may only take 2-3 voting years for each of those players to make the Hall. For other worthy players such as Johnny Damon, Andruw Jones, Scott Rolen, and Jamie Moyer the wait may be much longer.

The one player who will not have to wait at all is Atlanta Braves icon Chipper Jones. The resume includes a World Series championship, National League MVP, and 8 NL All-Star games. Jones also won 2 Silver Sluggers, and had five Top 10 NL MVP vote finishes. He is the lone first ballot honoree in this group.

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