2007 Hall of Fame Ballot released

[doublee]

Here is the list:

• Harold Baines
• Albert Belle
• Dante Bichette
• Bert Blyleven
• Bobby Bonilla
• Scott Brosius
• Jay Buhner
• Ken Caminiti
• Jose Canseco
• Dave Concepcion
• Eric Davis
• Andre Dawson
• Tony Fernandez
• Steve Garvey
• Rich Gossage
• Tony Gwynn
• Orel Hershiser
• Tommy John
• Wally Joyner
• Don Mattingly
• Mark McGwire
• Jack Morris
• Dale Murphy
• Paul O'Neill
• Dave Parker
• Jim Rice
• Cal Ripken Jr.
• Bret Saberhagen
• Lee Smith
• Alan Trammell
• Devon White
• Bobby Witt

Ripken and Gwynn are slam dunks in my mind. Gwynn is arguably the best pure hitter of his generation and Ripken the best all around SS of his.

Since Eck and Sutter are in isn't it about time Goose got the nod?

It is going to be very interesting to see how many votes McGwire and Canseco get. McGwire will probably get in eventually but I have a feeling the voters are going to make him wait awhile until he does get in.

[catman]

Could be a fairly small class of 2007 in Cooperstown. I expect Buck O'Neil to be enshrined with Ripken, Gwynn and the Goose. Maybe even Bert Blyleven?

[boston_aloha]

Cal
Gwynn (agree they are both LOCKS!!!)
Hershiser
Mattingly

This is going to be VERY intersting with big Mac...

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by doublee
Bret Saberhagen

I enjoyed watching him get inducted into the Kansas City Royals' Hall of Fame.

And somebody show Tommy John some love. Hell, we still talk about him to this day!

[doublee]

And somebody show Tommy John some love. Hell, we still talk about him to this day!

They should induct him as a contributer to the game. :D

Boston, Mattingly won't be going into the Hall unless the Veteran's Committee puts him in.

[boston_aloha]

I enjoyed watching him get inducted into the Kansas City Royals' Hall of Fame.

And somebody show Tommy John some love. Hell, we still talk about him to this day!

Did I hear he will not accept (if he indeed makes it) unless Pete Rose gets inducted?

[catman]

That would be a first. A player refusing induction into the HOF. I've heard players make pitches for others in their acceptance speeches, but this would be interesting.

[catman]

Here is an interesting article on why Marc McGwire belongs in the Hall: http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2006/12/03/why_mcgwire_belongs_in_cooperstown.php

[catman]

By the way, here is the criteria used by the voters for this honor: http://www.baseballwriters.org/HOF_rules.html

[Pimpbot]

I'd personally vote McGwire in. He hasn't tested positive for anything and his stats make him a perfect candidate imo. You can argue all you like about what he may or may not have taken, but blame baseball and the players union for that.

On a side note, I saw Pete Rose in Vegas this weekend. He was signing at the Forum shops at Caesars Palace.

[doublee]

I cannot remember who it was but I think it was either Olney or Gammons who brought up the point that when guys like Guillermo Mota and Jason Grimsley are getting clipped then how do we know which pitchers were or were not using some of this stuff in the 90s and early 00s?

It is interesting that the hitters are being scrutinized so heavily when there are a decent number of pitchers being clipped for the same thing. We can speculate on the McGwire's and Sosa's of the world but when do the pitchers come under scrutiny as well?

[bama4256]

Got to go with Gywnn and Ripken. I also like Dale Murphy just for being such a nice guy and a former MVP. Twice? Right?