Well the 2010 Hall of Fame ballot was officially announced, and that is usually huge news. The problem with the 2010 ballot is that although I believe it is loaded with some of the greatest baseball players to have ever played the game, that the sportswriters will find the ballot underwhelming, and may only vote 1 player in.


Roberto Alomar: He was the best 2B this side of Ryne Sandberg. However, since Ryno was not a first ballot Hall of Famer (for no logical reason) there’s no way Alomar gets in on the first try, especially since he went out bad, spit on John Hirschbeck, and has AIDS.
Kevin Appier: Nope.
Harold Baines: Nope.
Bert Blyleven:  Thanks to a campaign from various stat heads, this looks like Bert’s year to be elected.
Ellis Burks: Nope.
Andre Dawson: He had the fame, but…..the numbers just aren’t there. He may have received 67% of the vote last year, but…I don’t think he’ll get in now.
Andres Galarraga: Nope.
Pat Hentgen: Robbed Andy Pettitte of the 1996 Cy Young Award. Nope.
Mike Jackson: Nope.
Eric Karros: Nope.
Ray Lankford: Nope.
Barry Larkin: He was better than Ozzie Smith. He should be voted in. Will he? Maybe, but probably not this year.
Edgar Martinez: One of the greatest hitters of all time, but he was a DH. Sportswriters have no respect for DH’s. I don’t think he’ll be voted in this year.
Don Mattingly: He has not been gaining support. No.
Fred McGriff: One of the best 1B of his era. The Crime Dog was The Man…He got screwed at the end, and was unable to hit the magic #500HR (he had 493), and it may keep him out of the HOF on the first ballot. It’s ridiculous.
Mark McGwire: He’s hasn’t paid the piper yet.
Jack Morris: When it comes to 1980′s pitchers, there were SO MANY MORE that I would pick over Morris that are not even on the ballot anymore.
Dale Murphy: It’s a shame.
Dave Parker: Nope.
Tim Raines: Will not get elected this year, but should have already been elected. His flaw? Being the second best leadoff man of the era.
Shane Reynolds: Nope.
David Segui: Nope.
Lee Smith: Let’s see…was recognized as one the best closers of his era, pitched on big market teams, yet somehow is seen as being vastly inferior to Dennis Eckersley, who was already elected. Why? Anyway, Smith will not be elected this year.
Alan Trammell: He was second to Cal Ripken in the AL during his time. As we’ve seen with HOF ballots, being second is not good.
Robin Ventura: Truthfully, how many other 3rd basemen have had a great career like Ventura during these past few decades. It seems like if you didn’t have a career like Wade Boggs, George Brett, or Mike Schmidt, you can never get elected nowadays.
Todd Zeile: Nope.



Tony Vahl and I were discussing this HOF ballot. We believe that it is loaded with talent, but sportswriters have lost perspective. Damian Hospital’s personal ballot of 10 players would be: Fred McGriff, Roberto Alomar, Tim Raines, Bert Blyleven, Edgar Martinez, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Don Mattingly.

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