The ballots for the MLB Hall of Fame in 2014 so far indicate that four players stand to be inducted into Cooperstown: starting pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, first baseman Frank Thomas, and second baseman Craig Biggio.
Baseball Think Factory has a gizmo that runs an ongoing tally of ballots that have been made public. As of this morning they count those 118 ballots (which account for approximately 20.7% of the total vote). The results have those four getting in with Mike Piazza (73.7%) the first guy on the list of guys who don’t make the cut:
Greg Maddux – 100%
Tom Glavine – 97.5%
Frank Thomas – 90.7%
Craig Biggio – 82.2 %
It seems that Biggio’s hold on a spot seems the most tenuous. As for Thomas, it is interesting how the guilt-by-association from the steroids era is selectively applied by so many. Piazza had no more against him in terms of steroids than Thomas did, yet he is below the line and Thomas is receiving 17% more votes so far.
This year’s ballot very well might come down to Maddux and Glavine. It has been thought for a while now that Maddux will be a sure thing. Mark Bowman of MLB.com notes that it would be quite fitting for Maddux and Glavine to enter the hall together. The question is: will Glavine will be able to keep the momentum and make it as more ballots are sent in? Bill Deane, who projects each year’s voting with Nate Silver-esque accuracy, predicted that only Maddux would make it this year.
There is a good chance that only pitchers will be inducted this year, and the big question will be whether or not Glavine joins Maddux.