What do the following players have in common?
- Wilson Alvarez
- Roberto Alomar
- Carlos Baerga
- Jeff Bagwell
- Harold Baines
- Bert Blyleven
- Brett Boone
- Kevin Brown
- Cal Eldred
- John Franco
- Juan Gonzalez
- Marquis Grissom
- Lenny Harris
- Bobby Higginson
- Charles Johnson
- Barry Larkin
- Al Leiter
- José Lima* Eligible on “passed away” provision
- Edgar Martinez
- Tino Martinez
- Don Mattingly
- Fred McGriff
- Mark McGwire
- Raul Mondesi
- Jack Morris
- Dale Murphy
- José Offerman
- John Olerud
- Rafael Palmeiro
- Dave Parker
- Paul Quantrill
- Tim Raines
- Steve Reed
- Kirk Rueter
- Rey Sánchez
- Benito Santiago
- Lee Smith
- B.J. Surhoff
- Alan Trammell
- Ugueth Urbina
- Ismael Valdez
- Larry Walker
- Dan Wilson
That’s right, they will be on the official baseball Hall of Fame Ballot this season.
So let’s make you guys (and me) the electors. Here are the rules, straight from the BBWAA:
A. Electors may vote for as few as zero (0) and as many as ten (10) eligible candidates deemed worthy of election. Write-in votes are not permitted.
B. Any candidate receiving votes on seventy-five percent (75%) of the ballots cast shall be elected to membership in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
So who are you nominating? Here’s my ballot:
1. Roberto Alomar
2. Bert Blyleven
3. Tim Raines
4. Jeff Bagwell
5. Larry Walker
6. Jack Morris
7. Barry Larkin
8. Fred McGriff
No, I did not vote for Edgar Martinez. No I did not vote for Raffy Palmiero or Mark McGwire. And no, I did not vote for other steroid junkies like Bret Boone or Juan Gonzalez. (Discuss…)
If I get enough ballots (more than 2?) I will tally up our HoF selections. So, COME ON COMMITTEE!!
Lots of former Marlins on this list….there are 8 -- can you name them?
I’ll save you the trouble:
- Kevin Brown (Ace pitcher on FLA's first WS winner),
- Lenny Harris (ended his long career with three yrs in FLA),
- Charles Johnson (1st ever draft pick, on the 97 squad),
- Al Leiter (pitched a no-no for us and won the WS),
- Paul Quantrill (also ended his career with the fish)
- Benito Santiago (opening day catcher),
- Ugueth Urbina (saved FLA’s second WS over the Yanks),
- Ismael Valdez (ended his career in FLA)
