Fansided

These players are Cooperstown locks in the next five years

By David Salituro

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 6: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants watches the ball fly during game three of the National League Western Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 6, 2002 at the Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 8-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 6: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants watches the ball fly during game three of the National League Western Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 6, 2002 at the Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 8-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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UNITED STATES – APRIL 30: New York Yankees’ starter Mike Mussina delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mussina recorded the win as the Yanks beat the Blue Jays, 4-1. (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – APRIL 30: New York Yankees’ starter Mike Mussina delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mussina recorded the win as the Yanks beat the Blue Jays, 4-1. (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

Class of 2020

Derek Jeter, New York Yankees (20 seasons, 3,465 hits, .310 average, first year on ballot)

“The Captain” is as sure as it gets to a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In 20 seasons at shortshop with the Yankees, Jeter made 14 All-Star appearances and led the league in hits twice. He retired ranked sixth all-time in career hits. And that is just his regular season achievements. Jeter’s legacy was made in the playoffs. He is the all-time leader in playoff games played and hits, but it is the memorable moments that define his career. Ranging into foul territory on the first base side to throw out Jeremy Giambi against Oakland, or his walk-off home run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series that earned him the nickname “Mr. November.” These are the pictures that fans will remember about Jeter. If any player will get in to Cooperstown in a unanimous vote, Jeter will be the one.

Mike Mussina, Baltimore Orioles/New York Yankees (18 seasons, 270 wins, 3.68 ERA, seventh year on ballot)

Mussina should already be in the Hall, but he finally gets in this year. His Hall of Fame chances are likely hurt by the fact he didn’t win 300 games or a Cy Young Award. But over 18 seasons with the Orioles and Yankees, he finished in the top-six in Cy Young voting nine times. His 82.7 wins above replacement ranks 19th among pitchers since 1901. Mussina also retired after what might have been his best season, winning 20 games for the first time. Had he kept going, he may have gotten to 300 wins. In that case he would have surely been a Hall of Famer already.

Falling short: Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds

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