My 2015 HoF Ballot

With the BWAA vote for the Hall of Fame coming up, I thought I would throw in my ballot were I to get a vote. Below are the 10 names I would include. For those who read my ballot last year, this year's list should be no surprise.

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Sammy Sosa
4. Craig Biggio
5. Mike Piazza
6. Jeff Kent
7. Pedro Martinez
8. Randy Johnson
9. John Smoltz
10. Mark McGwire

Not a whole lot has changed since the BWAA foolishly allowed in so few from last year's ballot. Thomas, Glavine, and Maddox were all inducted into the Hall last year, and Raphael Palmiero tragically was removed from the ballot by not garnering enough votes (and Sosa just barely made it, meaning this year might ridiculously be his last on the ballot). So I had four spots cleared and literally no trouble filling them because the ballots are that loaded. Of those who I also thought deserved consideration but did not make the ballot last year McGwire was the obvious choice for this year. He was a prolific power hitter all the way from his rookie season, held the single season home run record, is a part of the 500 club, and revitalized all of baseball along with Sosa. The guy belongs in the Hall.

New to the ballot this year included three no brainers in Martinez, Smoltz, and Johnson. Johnson like Clemens makes a case for a top 3 all time pitcher. Martinez if he were healthier and pitched longer would be in that conversation too. The three were exemplars in strikeouts, wins, and ERA. Traditional stats, but not ones to be overlooked. To consider how good they were in the era of the greatest hitting in baseball is unreal. Johnson was probably the most intimidating pitcher of the generation, throwing hard when pitchers didn't throw that hard. And he seemed to do it forever. Martinez on the other hand was the tiniest pitcher you'd ever see, he had a career of doubters who felt his body-type did not add up to a big leaguer. Shows what they knew. Smoltz gets added especially because he was not only a dominant starter, but spent several years as a dominant reliever. When you can lead the league in wins, several years later lead the league in saves, then several years later lead the league in wins again, that shows just how he was a great pitcher not only throughout his career but even used in different ways. He may be the only pitcher with over 150 wins and saves in his career. 

I thought about dropping Jeff Kent for Edgar Martinez, but I opted to continue to push for Kent this year. Hopefully more than the expected Johnson, Biggio, and Martinez get in so we can give other borderline players a real opportunity.