How many can be voted in to the Hall in a year?

artistlost

If all these players do end up retiring this year...how many could be first ballot?

• Tom Glavine (2008: 2-4): 305 wins. Needless to say, the Hall of Fame argument ends at 300.

• Ken Griffey Jr. (18 homers, 71 RBIs): 611 home runs. Even if 600 is the new 500, Junior is in.

• Trevor Hoffman (30 saves): 554 saves -- a career record that could endure, given the fragility of the modern pitcher, as the next "unbreakable" one.

• Randy Johnson (11-10, 3.91): 295 wins with 4,789 strikeouts, second all-time to Nolan Ryan, and five Cy Young Awards, four (1999-2002) of them consecutively.

• Jeff Kent (.280, 12, 59): 377 home runs -- most ever by a second baseman.

• Greg Maddux (8-13, 4.22): 355 wins.

• Pedro Martinez (5-6): 214-99 career record. Every pitcher who finished 100-plus wins over .500 is in the Hall of Fame.

• Mike Mussina (20-9, 3.37): 270-153 career record -- see "Pedro Martinez."

• John Smoltz (3-2, 2.57): 210 wins and 154 saves. No one else has ever reached 200-plus wins with as many saves, not even Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley (197 wins).

• Frank Thomas (eight homers, 30 RBIs): 521 homers with a .301 career batting average.

mathew

baseballfan

as many that get over 75% can go in

augustaman

I don't think there's a "cut-off" number. If you're on the ballot
and get voted in, you're in. That being said, you can go ahead
and take Jeff Kent off the list - he is NOT a HOFer.

stevek

I believe the NFL has a cutoff number, but not MLB.

markj111

<< <i>I don't think there's a "cut-off" number. If you're on the ballot
and get voted in, you're in. That being said, you can go ahead
and take Jeff Kent off the list - he is NOT a HOFer. >>




I would take Kent over Hoffman. I am making no statement re the merits, but I bet Kent gets in.

Griffins

There were 17 Negro Leaguers in one year admitted a few years ago.

I'd take Kent and Mussina off as well.

lsutigers1973

Kent is the all time HR leader for 2nd basemen. He is getting in unfortunately.

artistlost

Even with taking some off here and there I do believe that there are 7 true first ballot hall of famers on that list

Glavine
Griffey Jr
Johnson
Maddux
Pedro
Smoltz
Thomas

Estil

Each voter can vote for up to ten. I suppose it would be mathematically possible (but certainly not probable) that more than ten can still get in.

mikeschmidt

<< <i>Kent is the all time HR leader for 2nd basemen. He is getting in unfortunately. >>



Still don't think he is going to get in.

mikeschmidt

<< <i>Each voter can vote for up to ten. I suppose it would be mathematically possible (but certainly not probable) that more than ten can still get in. >>



The theoretical limit then, is thirteen people voted in during any given election year.

fur72

Bet Hoffman is not a first ballot. Relievers don't get the respect they deserve. Ala Bruce Sutter who just made the cut.

rube26105

imagine all the homers griffey would have had if he wasnt hurt all the time in hs career,stinks but he'll get in anyways, he would have had footballhead whipped in the homer dept if not on the bench so much always liked griff

Estil

I'd say everyone except Mr. Kent belongs in the HOF. I'd say Mr. Kent is borderline, though he is just shy of 2500 H's, 400 HR's, and has over 1500 RBI's. Maybe another good year should definetly put him over the top?

As for Mr. Maddux, he could've retired ten years ago and got in on the first ballot.

ElToroLoco

All are first ballot HOF's with the exception of Kent and Mussina. We'll see where Kent ends up with his numbers, time isn't on his side. Mussina should have pitched a couple more years, he's been a consistent pitcher but he played in the time of Johnson, Pedro and Maddux. There is no question Griffey gets in, that question of "what if" will always be brought up though. All that time missed and he's at 611, maybe he can put up Barry Bonds type numbers in the twilight of his career!

dontippet

<< <i>If all these players do end up retiring this year...how many could be first ballot?

• Tom Glavine (2008: 2-4): 305 wins. Needless to say, the Hall of Fame argument ends at 300.

• Ken Griffey Jr. (18 homers, 71 RBIs): 611 home runs. Even if 600 is the new 500, Junior is in.

• Trevor Hoffman (30 saves): 554 saves -- a career record that could endure, given the fragility of the modern pitcher, as the next "unbreakable" one.

• Randy Johnson (11-10, 3.91): 295 wins with 4,789 strikeouts, second all-time to Nolan Ryan, and five Cy Young Awards, four (1999-2002) of them consecutively.

• Jeff Kent (.280, 12, 59): 377 home runs -- most ever by a second baseman.

• Greg Maddux (8-13, 4.22): 355 wins.

• Pedro Martinez (5-6): 214-99 career record. Every pitcher who finished 100-plus wins over .500 is in the Hall of Fame.

• Mike Mussina (20-9, 3.37): 270-153 career record -- see "Pedro Martinez."

• John Smoltz (3-2, 2.57): 210 wins and 154 saves. No one else has ever reached 200-plus wins with as many saves, not even Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley (197 wins).

• Frank Thomas (eight homers, 30 RBIs): 521 homers with a .301 career batting average.

mathew >>




In my opinion, the only sure fire 1st ballot hofers are Griffey, Johnson, and Maddux. Thomas is a borderline first year, especially if he is up against the other three I just mentioned.

artistlost

<< <i>In my opinion, the only sure fire 1st ballot hofers are Griffey, Johnson, and Maddux. Thomas is a borderline first year, especially if he is up against the other three I just mentioned. >>



I think Thomas is an easy 1st year guy. With the 500 HRs plus a 300 career batting average 2 MVP awards and over 500 doubles it should be a no brainer

mathew

shagrotn77

Take Johnson off the list. He's only a few wins shy of 300, so obviously he's coming back for another year. I think Pedro will be back too. Sad that so many here don't think Kent is a HOF'er. What an absolutely silly notion. He's the best power hitting 2B ever. Why on Earth would he not get in the HOF? Seriously, do the math people.

GDM67

<< <i>Take Johnson off the list. He's only a few wins shy of 300, so obviously he's coming back for another year. I think Pedro will be back too. >>


Agreed.

Smoltz will, at the very least, give it a try in spring training. I won't be shocked if Glavine does, too.

I would love to see the Big 3 go in as a group, but I've always worried about the other possibly eligible players crowding one of them out.

Haven't noticed Schilling's name in this discussion. I detest the man but his case is quite solid.

gonzer

<< <i>As for Mr. Maddux, he could've retired ten years ago and got in on the first ballot >>



Touche!

StopYurWhining

most of those players will be in uniform come opening day. a couple like smoltz and glavine will probably retire if they cant pitch without pain.

also Schilling could be on the list too.

i think everyone else is gonna be in uniform except Maddux, though he is pondering a role as player/coach

PowderedH2O

I agree that Randy Johnson will be back this year. 300 wins is the ONLY thing he hasn't accomplished and he still has enough stuff to win 10-15 games this year. Who knows about Jeff Kent? Everyone says he is a pain in the rear, but if you put his numbers up against the numbers of the second basemen in the Hall, Kent matches up very favorably. I've heard the same stuff about Frank Thomas as a teammate. Quite honestly, Kent is a unique talent. The Big Hurt is similar to a lot of other great sluggers. And nobody EVER confused Frank Thomas with Keith Hernandez or Gil Hodges at first base. I wouldn't necessarily put Thomas in as a first ballot HOFer. I would take Jim Rice over Frank Thomas any day, and Rice is in his fifteenth year of trying to get in. I guess only time will tell.

rube26105

man i reme ber powered eggs and mil;k in the army n nam , ugh
beer was better
clayton bigby
happy birthday me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

StopYurWhining

Rube im glad you finally went to bed. Responding to all your posts is exhausting!@