2017 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

The revamped Veterans Committee announced the first Today's Game Ballot:

Harold Baines
Albert Belle
Will Clark
Orel Hershiser
Davey Johnson
Mark McGwire
Lou Piniella
John Schuerholz
Bud Selig
George Steinbrenner

Stunned that at least one of Trammell, Morris or Whitaker wasn't chosen and that Davey Johnson was nominated over Jim Leyland.

Based on history, I assume the committee will put Schuerholz, Selig and Steinbrenner in.

 

I would love to see Albert Belle get in.

 

Albert Belle was definitely a HOF talent. His attitude toward sportswriters will hurt him more than the injuries which shortened his career.

 

His 162 game average is insane, 40 hr 130 rbi. same rbi as ted williams and 3 more hr. think only babe ruth's is better in both.

 

Wasn't he also a cheat?

 

Joey pissed off the sanctimonious BBWAA. He never got a fair look.

 

How will that hurt him with ex-ball players?

 

I want Belle in only if Jason Grimsley presents him. Kidding aside, he was an absolute beast for more than a decade. He got jobbed out of the 1995 AL MVP, losing it to Mo Vaughn -- even though he had 50 home runs AND 50 doubles. And I say that as a Red Sox fan. He was a cock, sure, but who cares? He was never proven to have taken steroids and even denied taking them. That said, yeah, he definitely corked his bat, though Grimsley obligingly crawled through the vents of the stadium and into the umpire's room to snag the bat, some of the best baseball skullduggery ever.

Will Clark, Harold Baines and Hershisher over Trammell? And where's Don Mattingly? Does he not fall into their era? And he's off the 15-year ballot, so why wouldn't he be on this?

 

Corked bat, yes. He also doesn't have any "magic" numbers: 400 home runs, 2,500 hits, five or more years as the best player at his position, etc.

 

There are media members on the committee. At least there used to be.

 

Um, Tim Raines?

 

Still on the ballot.