Hall of Fame

1. Harold Baines

2. †Jay Bell

3. Bert Blyleven

4. †David Cone

5. Andre Dawson

6. †Ron Gant

7. †Mark Grace

8. †Rickey Henderson

9. Tommy John

10. Don Mattingly

11. Mark McGwire

12. Jack Morris

13. Dale Murphy

14. †Jesse Orosco

15. Dave Parker

16. †Dan Plesac

17. Tim Raines

18. Jim Rice

19. Lee Smith

20. Alan Trammell

21. †Greg Vaughn

22. †Mo Vaughn

23. †Matt Williams

† Denotes a first-time appearance on the ballot.

Here's what my ballot would look like:

IN:

Bert Blyleven: Much ink has been spilled about this, especially by Rich Lederer, who wrote something new just the other day. If Jim Rice gets in this year (which he probably will), then Blyleven should be in too, with a signed apology from the BBWAA. Someone said this week (I believe it was Rob Neyer) that when the post-Blyleven pitchers with less than 300 wins start going in to the Hall, it will make it even harder to justify why Blyleven is not there. I completely agree, so can we just get the guy in already?

Rickey Henderson: Joe Posnanski wrote today about this, and I completely agree, as is the usual with me and JoePo. There's no cogent argument for why Rickey should not be in the Hall of Fame.

Mark McGwire: It's well past time to come down off the soapbox. Keeping McGwire out sends the Hall of Fame down a very treacherous, hypocritical, and slippery slope.

Tim Raines: People focus more on Andre Dawson for some reason, and I feel like Rock gets left out, which is a shame, because he was one of the best players of my youth. If Blyleven is Rich Lederer's project, Raines belongs to the inimitable Tom Tango, who covered why Rock should be in the Hall of Fame from all conceivable angles, and it's clear that he belongs. One thing about baseball in the 80's that is becoming more and more clear: We didn't know what was really valuable (see Boggs, Wade). Even I was surprised to see some of these numbers.

Alan Trammell: Basically outshined by Cal Ripken Jr. for most of his career. Had a very good bat and a very good glove, and deserves more credit. Don't believe me? Look here.


OUT, with regrets:

Andre Dawson: Would make my "Hall of Very Good," and my Hall of Fame for nicknames.

Dale Murphy: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Was spoken of with reverential tones on TBS when I was a kid, but now is pretty much an afterthought.

Dave Parker and Jim Rice: Mostly because Rice getting in is the only way Parker gets considered, when Parker was in fact the better player. In my estimation, neither should go, but it's ridiculous to put Rice in when Parker is getting so much less support. I guess the Cobra should've played in the weaker league and a better pitcher's park so he could garner a few more votes.


Out, with no regrets:

Jack Morris: Never has one World Series done so much for someone's career. Please, please, please familiarize yourself with the numbers. And by the way, he was AWFUL in the 1992 postseason. No way am I supporting a pitcher with a 105 ERA+ for his career.

Baines, Bell, Cone, Gant, Grace, John, Mattingly, Orosco, Plesac, Smith, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn, Williams


There's my (slightly informed) opinion.