Fansided

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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BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 03: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling #38 is introduced before being inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins during the game on August 3, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 03: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling #38 is introduced before being inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins during the game on August 3, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Curt Schilling

Deep down, most writers probably believe Curt Schilling is a Hall of Famer based on his baseball performance. Unfortunately, Schilling has come completely undone in the public eye during his post-career days. He has shown his true colors, spouting wildly xenophobic, bigoted and downright incorrect opinions. Having been fired by ESPN, Schilling is now working for right-wing news site Breitbart News.

Not exactly the type of things one should be doing when the Hall of Fame still has a nebulous character clause.

Whether or not you agree with Schilling’s political views or believe fully in the right to free speech, he has to be smarter. Yes, the Hall of Fame already has more than a few bigoted, racist players within its ranks, but they were inducted in a different time. Fair or not to players whose views do not align with the mainstream media, sharing Islamophobic or transphobic memes on Facebook is not the right way to reach the Hall of Fame. The numbers are there, but Curt Schilling is the one keeping Curt Schilling out of the Hall of Fame.

Verdict — Your crazy uncle on Facebook might vote for Schilling, but the baseball writers take a pass

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