MLB Hall of Fame: Breaking down the 2021 ballot
With the MLB Hall of Fame ballot having been announced, let’s take a look at the candidates to see who, if anyone, will be inducted.
The announcement of the MLB Hall of Fame ballot is a time of excitement and remembrance. It is a chance to look back at the careers of those players, remembering their greatness and the highlights of their career. For some, it is one final chance to be in the spotlight, their names appearing on the ballot for that one year before falling off, their careers fading into the distance.
For others, it is a chance to have the fans remember how good of a player they had been. While they may not be inducted, they remain on the ballot for those ten years, their accomplishments being highlighted year after year. While they too fade away, their legacies stand out a bit longer, reverberating through MLB history a bit louder.
Then there are those select few for whom the MLB Hall of Fame ballot is a coronation. Whether they are inducted in their first year or their last year, it is a call for immortality. Those players are immortalized forever in the hallowed halls in Cooperstown, their legend secure. It is a time for celebration, of both those players and the history of the game.
Which players will get the call of immortality, finding out that they have been inducted in the MLB Hall of Fame this year? Let’s take a look at the 25 man ballot.
Two players considered the poster children of the PED Era highlight these candidates for the MLB Hall of Fame.
Bobby Abreu – second year on ballot
Bobby Abreu was the only holdover amongst the first time candidates last year, barely staying on the ballot with 5.5% of the vote. He was a solid player, producing a .291/.395/.475 batting line with 288 homers and 400 steals. However, his production was overlooked during the PED Era, as Abreu was only a two time All Star. His career continues to be overlooked, as his candidacy does not appear to be getting any traction. Abreu may be lucky to get a third year on the ballot.
Barry Bonds – ninth year on ballot
Normally, Barry Bonds would have been a first ballot inductee into the MLB Hall of Fame. He is the all time and single season home run king, one of eight players in the 300-300 club, and the only player in MLB history to join the 400-400 and 500-500 clubs. A 14 time All Star, seven time MVP, and eight time Gold Glove winner, he posted a career .298/.444/.607 batting line with 762 homers and 514 steals. However, PED allegations have ruined his chances, as his 60.7% of the vote in 2020 is his high water mark. Bonds will probably get in, but it may have to wait until next year.
Mark Buehrle – first year on ballot
Mark Buehrle has one of the more compelling cases amongst first timers on the ballot. He was a steady innings eater, missing 15 consecutive years with 200 or more innings pitched by just four outs in his final season. Along the way, he complied a 214-160 record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.281 WHiP, striking out 1870 batters with 734 walks over his 3283.1 innings. Buehrle threw two no hitters, including a perfect game, and was part of the White Sox championship team in 2005. A five time All Star and four time Gold Glove winner, Buehrle was a solid pitcher, but may not reach the 5.0% threshold.
A.J. Burnett – first year on ballot
Once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, A.J. Burnett never quite lived up to the hype. He had a solid career, posting a 164-157 record, along with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.325 WHiP, striking out 2513 batters with 1100 walks over his 2731.1 innings. He threw a no hitter in 2009, and made the All Star Game in his final season. That, along with appearing on a Hall of Fame ballot once, are the highlights of his career.
Roger Clemens – ninth year on ballot
Much like Bonds, Roger Clemens is a poster child for the PED Era. His career was seemingly over before he found the Fountain of Youth in Toronto, becoming one of the greatest pitchers of all time. An 11 time All Star, Clemens won seven Cy Young awards, was the 1986 AL MVP, and won the pitching Triple Crown twice. He finished his career with a 354-184 record, along with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.173 WHiP, striking out 4672 batters with 1580 walks in his 4916.2 innings. Chances are, like Bonds, Clemens will not be induced this year, but will find his way to Cooperstown in his final year on the ballot in 2022.
Every year, we wonder how a player found their way on the MLB Hall of Fame ballot. Here is that section.
Michael Cuddyer – first year on ballot
Michael Cuddyer was a solid player during his 15 years in the majors. He was a two time All Star, won the 2013 NL batting title while a member of the Rockies, and had a bit of power and speed. He was a lifetime .277/.344/.461 hitter with 197 homers, 333 doubles, and 75 steals. Those were solid numbers, but Cuddyer will be lucky to even get a vote this year.
Dan Haren – first year on ballot
A solid innings eater during his time with the A’s, Dan Haren looked like he could have a case for the MLB Hall of Fame early in his career. However, his career fell off a cliff after his age 30 season, leaving him a decent career, but no chance at the hall. A three time All Star, Haren posted a 153-131 record with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.181 WHiP, striking out 2013 batters with 500 walks in 2419.1 innings. It was a solid career, but Haren is not likely to receive a vote either.
LaTroy Hawkins – first year on ballot
LaTroy Hawkins is that token middle reliever that seems to make the ballot every year. And every year, that middle reliever fails to get a vote. He spent 21 years in the majors, one of only 16 players in MLB history to appear in over 1000 games. In that time, he posted a 4.31 ERA and a 1.406 WHiP, striking out 983 batters with 456 walks over his 1467.1 innings. He did notch 127 saves and 185 holds, but is also unlikely to receive a single vote for induction.
Todd Helton – third year on ballot
Todd Helton has seen his candidacy hampered by the stigma surrounding Coors Field. However, he was a solid player in his own right – a five time All Star and three time Gold Glove winner. During the course of his career, he posted a .316/.414/.539 batting line, hitting 369 homers and 592 doubles. His candidacy has gotten more traction, as he received a 12.7% increase in the vote in 2020, but Helton has a long way to go for induction.
Tim Hudson – first year on the ballot
Tim Hudson has one of the two best cases of the first year players to remain on the ballot. A steady top of the rotation arm, Hudson was a four time All Star and the 2000 AL Cy Young runner up. He posted a 222-133 record over his career, along with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.239 WHiP, striking out 2080 batters with just 917 walks over his 3126.1 innings. While he may not be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, Hudson should be able to stick around on the ballot for at least one more year.
Defense abounds in this section of the MLB Hall of Fame candidates.
Torii Hunter – first year on ballot
The enduring image of Torii Hunter‘s career involves his robbing Barry Bonds of a homer in the All Star Game, then being carried over the Giants’ slugger’s shoulder. He was a five time All Star and a nine time Gold Glove winner, one of the top defensive outfielders in the game. Hunter was also solid with the bat, producing a .277/.331/.461 batting line with 353 homers, 498 doubles, and 195 steals. That solid all around game should allow Hunter to stick on the ballot for a few years.
Andruw Jones – fourth year on ballot
One could state that Andruw Jones was the best defensive outfielder in MLB history. His 254 runs saved are the second most in the history of the game, and the most of any outfielder. He was a five time All Star and ten time Gold Glove winner, seemingly a shoe-in for the MLB Hall of Fame before his career fell off a cliff. Nonetheless, he produced a solid .254/.337/.486 batting line with 434 homers and 152 steals in his career. If Jones is enshrined, his glove will be why.
Jeff Kent – eighth year on ballot
Jeff Kent struggled with the glove, but his bat forced teams to find a spot for him in the lineup. A late bloomer, Kent became arguably the greatest offensive second baseman in the history of the game. A five time All Star and the 2000 NL MVP, he posted a .290/.356/.500 batting line with 377 homers and 560 doubles. His candidacy has not had much traction, but Kent has the offensive resume to be inducted.
Andy Pettitte – third year on ballot
Normally, Andy Pettitte would have a solid case for induction. He was a five time All Star and an excellent postseason pitcher, a part of three Yankees championships. Pettitte posted a 256-153 record with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.351 WHiP, striking out 2448 batters with 1031 walks in his 3316 innings. However, his inclusion in the Mitchell Report, and subsequent admission of PED use, have hampered his chances.
Aramis Ramirez – first year on ballot
Another candidate with an interesting resume, Aramis Ramirez could earn the votes needed to remain on the ballot for another year. He was a three time All Star, never quite getting the recognition he deserved at the hot corner. However, over the course of his career, he posted a respectable .283/.341/.492 batting line, hitting 386 homers and 495 doubles. He had a solid career, but one that may leave him without a second appearance on the ballot.
The next player inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame could come from this section.
Manny Ramirez – fifth year on ballot
Another player who would have been a shoe-in for the MLB Hall of Fame, Manny Ramirez torpedoed his candidacy with two positive PED tests. That detracts from what had been an incredible career – he was a 12 time All Star and a nine time Silver Slugger, the MVP of the 2004 World Series where the Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino. He produced a .312/.411/.585 batting line, hitting 555 homers and 547 doubles. However, those PED suspensions all but guarantee that he will not be voted in.
Scott Rolen – fourth year on ballot
Scott Rolen may have one of the more underappreciated careers of anyone on the ballot. He was a seven time All Star an eight time Gold Glove winner, one of the best defensive third basemen in the history of the game. Rolen was also excellent with the bat, producing a .281/.364/.490 batting line with 316 homers and 517 doubles. His candidacy has picked up steam, as he doubled his percentage from 2019 to 2020, leading to the hope that he could be inducted in the future.
Curt Schilling – ninth year on ballot
If anyone is to be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame this year, it is likely to be Curt Schilling. He received 70% of the vote in 2020, leaving most to expect him to be enshrined this time around. He took off in the second half of his career, his injuries and ineffectiveness behind him. A six time All Star, Schilling posted a 216-146 record with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.137 WHiP, striking out 3116 batters with 711 walks over his 3261 innings. His bloody sock game from the 2004 ALCS certainly helps his cause as well.
Gary Sheffield – seventh year on ballot
Gary Sheffield is hindered by his abrasive personality and the fact that he never stuck with one team for very long. His resume would seemingly be worthy of induction – he was a nine time All Star and five time Silver Slugger who posted a .292/.393/.514 batting line with 509 homers and 467 doubles. But he does not have that one moment that people remember, and his name was included in the Mitchell Report. That has combined to keep Sheffield from getting enough attention to lead to enshrinement.
Sammy Sosa – ninth year on ballot
No player may have been hurt more by PED allegations than Sammy Sosa. The only player in MLB history to hit over 60 homers in a season three times, Sosa has gone from beloved slugger to pariah. His career numbers – a .273/.344/.534 batting line with 609 homers and 234 steals, would seemingly put him in. He also was a seven time All Star and the 1998 NL MVP, one of the best players of his time. Those PED allegations, however, have ruined any chance he has of being voted in.
There are some interesting cases amongst the final five players on the MLB Hall of Fame ballot.
Nick Swisher – first year on ballot
Ozzie Guillen’s favorite player finds himself on the ballot. Nick Swisher was adept at getting on base and had decent pop, but his career is relatively underwhelming for consideration for the Hall. The 2010 All Star produced a .249/.351/.477 batting line with 245 homers and 307 doubles in his dozen years in the majors. While those are solid numbers, he is not likely to receive a vote.
Shane Victorino – first year on ballot
When Shane Victorino was healthy, he was a solid player. The problem was that he could not stay on the diamond. A two time All Star and four time Gold Glove winner, he appeared in more than 100 games only eight times in his dozen years. That hurt his numbers, leading to a .275/.340/.425 batting line with 108 homers and 231 steals. Victorino had a solid career, but not one worthy of a vote on the Hall of Fame ballot.
Omar Vizquel – fourth year on ballot
It seems likely that Omar Vizquel will eventually be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. A three time All Star, Vizquel was known for his excellent glove, leading to 11 Gold Glove awards. He developed into a respectable hitter as well, producing a .272/.336/.352 batting line with 456 doubles and 404 steals. Interestingly, despite hitting only 80 homers in his career, Vizquel is one of four players in MLB history to hit a homer in four different decades. The other three are in the MLB Hall of Fame; Vizquel may join them in the near future.
Billy Wagner – sixth year on ballot
One of the best relievers in MLB history, Billy Wagner does not get the recognition he deserves. This may be due to his horrendous postseason numbers, but Wagner was one of the best closers in the regular season. A seven time All Star, he never led the league in saves, but his 422 saves are sixth all time. He produced a 2.31 ERA and a 0.998 WHiP, striking out 1196 batters with 300 walks in his 903 innings. Those numbers deserve a longer look.
Next. The Hall of Fame's doleful year. dark
Barry Zito – first year on ballot
Another pitcher who appeared to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory, Barry Zito saw his career fall off once he left the A’s. He was a three time All Star and the 2002 AL Cy Young winner, but never lived up to the seven year deal he signed with the Giants. Although that contract colors the perception of his career, Zito was a solid pitcher, posting a 165-143 record, along with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.337 WHiP. He struck out 1885 batters with 1064 walks in his 2576.2 innings. Those were respectable numbers, but not enough to be enshrined in the MLB Hall of Fame.