2019 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

hell no, it doesn't factor at all.

 

You shouldn't.

There was never a unanimous selection because it is impossible to get that many people to agree on one thing. Just six years ago, there were 125 more voters than now. And all it takes is one.

Throughout the balloting you had people who said if X wasn't unanimous, Y shouldn't be.
You had people who had personal grudges.
You had racists.

Social media means jack because the Hall still keeps ballots anonymous if the voter wants. We still don't know the three who didn't vote for Griffey. That was 3 years ago, not 30.

 

Not arguing that he's a Hall of Famer, but does Halladay get in first-ballot if not for his untimely death?
His career strikes me as great, but not all-time great, the type that usually has to wait a few years.

 

I think he still gets in first ballot. I can't see that many who thought they'd vote for him just because he died that it pushed in across 75 percent (He was more than 40 votes over it). Now if he had an Addie Joss type death that actually ended his career and that's why his numbers are lower, then yes.

The electorate has changed in the last five years. PEDs has had an effect of course but based on history before this decade, a guy like Smoltz or Vlad would not have been first ballot guys.

 

Smoltz, Glavine and Eckersely were first ballot and he's definitely as good as them

First Ballot MLB Hall of Famers

 

And yet when he retired, his conversion percentage was lower than Joe Nathan’s.

Rivera is absolutely a hall of famer but the fact he’s the first unanimous one seems weird to me. Although as a buddy said five years ago, it’s like he’s the first player to ever retire. So there’s that.

 

meanwhile, Greg Maddux would like to remind Braves fans that he also went in without a team logo bc "fuck you, Atlanta."

 

BTW, I hope the Hall has video of those 4 yesterday getting the call that they were inducted. Always enjoy those, even if it's a foregone conclusion. Actually, the call I'd really to see is the one that was made to Baines. He probably thought the caller was messing with him.

 

There's no Mussina video because he was at high school basketball practice

 

I always feel bad for the football candidates who hang out on Super Bowl week, hobnob, maybe do a little campaigning - and then despite their great careers are stuck sitting in their hotel room wondering if they're going to get the knock on the door or the phone call - just like a rookie sweating out a cut in training camp.

 

Like who?