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Baseball Hall of Fame 2017 ballot: Who’s in and who’s out?

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; The 4 Hall of Fame plagues of Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz installed and available for viewing in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres former closer Trevor Hoffman throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres former closer Trevor Hoffman throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Trevor Hoffman

Hoffman retired as the all-time leader in saves with 601. Mariano Rivera has since eclipsed that record, but Hoffman still holds a handful of MLB records. He has the most 40-save seasons overall, most consecutive seasons with 40 saves and the all-time highest strikeout rate for a reliever. In his first season on the ballot, Hoffman came up just short with 68.3 percent of the vote.

Unfortunately, Hoffman came up against some bias as a closer. He is the first elite closer since the full acceptance of one-inning specialists in baseball to test the ballot and was still turned away. Designated hitters encounter the same line of thinking from voters. Unlike Rivera, who will walk in easily on his first time on the ballot, Hoffman did not have a lengthy track record in the postseason. He spent most of his career in anonymity pitching for the moribund San Diego Padres.

The second time will be the charm for Trevor Hoffman, but it is unfortunate that it took two attempts in the first place. If the closer has been widely accepted in MLB front offices and clubhouses, why must one of the best closers in league history be forced to wait his turn to enter Cooperstown? How far down the all-time saves list will voters be willing to go given all of the dominant relievers who have emerged over the past two decades? Billy Wagner, way down the ballot with 10.5 percent last year, deserves more consideration.

Verdict — Hoffman gets his spot in the Hall, one year late

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