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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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Apr 1, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Former Montreal Expos player Vladimir Guerrero salutes the crowd next to Tim Raines during a ceremony before the game between teh Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Former Montreal Expos player Vladimir Guerrero salutes the crowd next to Tim Raines during a ceremony before the game between teh Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Vladimir Guerrero

During his time in the big leagues, Vlad Guerrero was one of the most exciting players to watch. Had he spent the early years of his career with any team but the Montreal Expos, Guerrero would have won more than one MVP award. As it is, he garnered MVP votes in 12 of his 16 years in the league.

Guerrero’s first five full seasons in the big leagues compare very well to two-time MVP and current gift to baseball Mike Trout. Guerrero hit 197 home runs while driving in 582, stole 111 bases and slashed .325/.391/.602. Trout checks in with 163 homers, 481 RBIs, 139 steals, and a .310/.410/.564 line. The numbers Guerrero put up are taken with a grain of salt by some, however, as they came during the height of the steroid era, but most view him as one of the best clean hitters in the history of the game.

Vlad had it all early in his career — power, speed, high batting average, remarkable hand-eye coordination, and personality. When he left the Expos and joined the Los Angeles Angels, he was given a bigger stage on which to perform, and hardly disappointed. As a Hall of Fame candidate, however, Guerrero may encounter some tougher sledding than he ever did in his career. He does not check off the major boxes for 3,000 hits or 500 home runs and did not win a World Series. He hit more than 40 home runs in a season only twice. As an all-around batter, few can match Guerrero’s prowess. The 3,000-hit club and 500 home-run club would have been well within reach had Guerrero’s body been able to hold on for three more seasons, but it let him down.

Verdict — Missing 3,000 hits and 500 home runs keeps Vladdy out for now, but he will have his day in the sun

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