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1/9/08
Baseball Hall of Fame: Looking Ahead to 2009
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With this year's baseball Hall of Fame elections complete, we take a quick look at next year's ballot. Three names are likely to dominate the discussion: Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice, and Mark McGwire (again).

Rickey Henderson is the most notable new name on the 2009 ballot, and will certainly get in, barring him deciding to play again. Other newbies that could get some support (i.e. not fall off in one year) including David Cone, Mark Grace, and Jesse Orosco. However, the new class is all about Henderson. The only question is how many moron writers won't vote for him because he's Rickey.

The next biggest story is the final appearance of Jim Rice. He came just 16 votes shy of election this year. History points to Rice being inducted next year, but it's not certain. What is certain is another year of endless arguments both for and against him.

After that, it's Mark McGwire, because every time sportswriters can get on their soapbox about steroids, they will. For them, McGwire is like a yearly physical. Obviously, McGwire won't get a sniff of election.

After their big jumps this year, Andre Dawson and Bert Blyleven have an outside shot of election next year. Rickey's presence will probably prevent either from making, because that's how this works for some reason. Top new candidates always hurt the backlog.

Everyone else that got at least 5% of the ballot will return, except for Dave Concepcion, who has used up his eligibility. Don't expect big moves for any of them unless the Tim Raines campaign starts convincing people.

Who would you vote for the 2009 ballot? Right now, I'd go with Rickey (of course), the "sabremetric darlings" Raines, Blyleven, and Trammell, and McGwire (not going into it now). I'd still consider Murhpy, Dawson, and maybe Cone in a "you shouldn't fall off the ballot right away" way.
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544 days ago
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I don't konw what's worse - baseball's HOF election process or their performance enhacing drug testing process.  At least their consistent in sucking at processes.
 
544 days ago
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Rickey is a lock next year, and I'd bet that Rice also gets in on his last try.  I would probably also vote for Trammell, Raines, Cone, and maybe Dawson.
 
544 days ago
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Rice should be able to get in because only one big name is new. If it were 2 big names, he'd probably fall short. (when Gwynn and Ripken went in a lot of returnees went down in votes in I recall).

 

As for Rickey I think he'll miss at least 3 votes (the same guys who wouldn't vote for Ryan because they don't think they should be unanimous).

 
539 days ago
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baseball sucks with its drug testing hof voting and its league n general...luxury tax bull...and the yanks still lose
 
537 days ago
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Rickey is a lock and for Rice he will fall short, rightfully so. Now Andre Dawson I hope he will get in he belongs in the HOF without a dout and yes I'm saying Rice DOESN'T belong in the HOF

 
 
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