The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is a revered institution that celebrates the sport’s history and honors its greatest players. The process of selecting Hall of Fame inductees is a matter of great passion and debate among the members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Each year, the association’s members submit their ballots to determine which players will be elected to the Hall of Fame.
The ballots are a reflection of each writer’s individual opinion, and there is no definitive answer to what makes a player worthy of Hall of Fame induction. It takes a 75 percent majority vote from the BBWAA members to elect a player.
This year, several writers from The Athletic have shared their Hall of Fame ballots and the reasoning behind their selections.
Daniel Barbarisi included Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, and Billy Wagner in his ballot. Barbarisi highlighted Mauer’s impressive career as a catcher, noting that his numbers may not do justice to his early seasons when he excelled behind the plate. He also considered Mauer’s injuries and wondered what could have been if he had stayed healthy.
Dan Brown’s ballot included Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Chase Utley, and Billy Wagner. Brown strategically voted for certain players based on their need for votes to reach the 75 percent threshold. He also considered JAWS rankings and a player’s peak seasons.
Steve Buckley’s ballot consisted of Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, Andy Pettitte, Gary Sheffield, and Billy Wagner. Buckley expressed disappointment that Beltrán, who was involved in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, may not be elected, despite his impressive career. He argued that Beltrán has already been punished and should not be denied a place in the Hall of Fame.
Marc Carig’s ballot included Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, Gary Sheffield, and Billy Wagner. Carig noted Beltré’s clear-cut candidacy and Mauer’s excellence as a catcher during his prime. He also weighed the impact of injuries on a player’s career, particularly in the case of David Wright.
Keith Law’s ballot consisted of Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, and Chase Utley. Law emphasized the importance of being inclusive and not penalizing players based on the era in which they played. He also considered offensive stats over defensive stats and the changing trends in player usage.
Eno Sarris’ ballot included Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, Gary Sheffield, Chase Utley, and Billy Wagner. Sarris focused on being inclusive and believed in giving players the chance to be recognized for their contributions. He considered wins above replacement and offensive stats as key factors in his selections.
In conclusion, the Hall of Fame voting process is a subjective one, with writers expressing their opinions based on various criteria. The ballots submitted by The Athletic’s writers reflect their individual perspectives and considerations. The final results will be announced by the Baseball Hall of Fame in due course.