Baseball Hall of Fame 2017 ballot: Who’s in and who’s out?
Major League Baseball and the BBWAA have announced the ballot for the 2017 Hall of Fame class. Who has the best shot at being inducted?
Baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot for the 2017 class has been released and features 34 players. There are several very interesting candidates on the ballot, including first-timers Vladimir Guerrero, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. To stay on the ballot for a second season, eligible players must receive at least five percent of the vote.
The 2016 vote sent two players to Cooperstown, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza. Jeff Bagwell came up just 15 votes short of induction, while Tim Raines and Trevor Hoffman both topped 65 percent. The only player to miss out on the Hall of Fame after receiving 65 percent of the vote at least once is pitcher Jake Morris, so that bodes well for Hoffman and Raines.
Once again, questions regarding steroid and performance-enhancing drug use will surround the ballot. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa remain on the ballot. Ramirez’s career obviously ended in disgrace after two positive tests, but he is one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball history. Rodriguez was also tied to steroids by admitted user Jose Canseco and offered a weak non-answer when questioned in the past. Steroids will continue to be a prickly subject for voters, but support for Bonds and Clemens rose last year with the removal of older voters.
So, let’s start at the top with the most likely candidates for the Hall and break down who’s in and who’s out.
Jeff Bagwell
Every player who has gotten as close to Cooperstown as Bagwell did last year has eventually gotten in, and he is a sure lock to join Houston Astros teammate Craig Biggio in the Hall this year. Between the two of them, Bagwell and Biggio helped give the Astros one of the most potent lineups in the league.
Bagwell debuted on the ballot in 2011 and received 41.7 percent of the vote. His candidacy has been climbing gradually, as voters become more accepting of players from the height of the steroid era. It must be noted that Bagwell was never linked to PEDs and did not fail the league’s anonymous survey drug test in 2003.
The longtime Astros first baseman will go into the Hall with many accolades. He is one of only 12 players in league history to hit 400 home runs while recording an OBP over .400. Bagwell is also the only first baseman with 400 homers and 200 steals. He is also the only first baseman with two 30-30 seasons. Bagwell made the All-Star team four times, won the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards, and led the league in at least one offensive category in four separate years. After the age of 32, Bagwell’s numbers tailed off significantly, only lending more credence to the belief that he did not use steroids.