Though bypassed by the baseball writers during his 10-year stint on their ballot, Fred McGriff won … [+]
Wait ‘til next year!
The one-time rallying cry of the Brooklyn Dodgers also applies to the Baseball Hall of Fame, where Sunday’s Class of 2023 induction class consists of two members.
But after the enshrinement of Scott Rolen, elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America, and Fred McGriff, a unanimous selection of the 16-member Eras Committee, the fun begins.
At least two holdovers from last year’s ballot, Todd Helton and Billy Wagner, are closing in on the mandatory 75 per cent for election and two ballot newcomers, Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer, could join the rare one-and-done club.
In addition, an Eras Committee voting on non-playing personnel could emulate the Class of 2014 and elect three managers, probably Lou Piniella, Davey Johnson, and Jim Leyland.
That would make for seven electees next summer – assuming no surprises, such as holdovers Andruw Jones or Gary Sheffield suddenly surging on the writers’ ballot, the Eras Committee voting for owners Charlie Finley or George Steinbrenner, or the BBWAA certifying first-timers Chase Utley or David Wright – not to mention holdover Carlos Beltran.
Helton got 72.2 per cent of the vote last year, while Wagner got 68.1 per cent, Jones 58.1 per cent, and Gary Sheffield 55 per cent.
Beltran drew 46.5 per cent – a total that history suggests will eventually lead to enshrinement. No player who did that well in his first time on the ballot has ever missed election.
No matter how it shakes out, July 21, 2024 figures to be a long, hot summer afternoon for the sweltering minions in the vast fields behind the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown.
In the history of the BBWAA vote, dating back to 1936, the writers have elected five players once – in the very first election – and as any as four men five different times.
Fifty-eight players have been chosen in their first year of eligibility, most recently David (Big Papi) Ortiz last year, Derek Jeter in 2020, and Mariano Rivera – the only unanimous electee of the writers – in 2019.
Scott Rolen’s glove was his main calling card when the baseball writers voted for the Hall of Fame’s … [+]
Counting McGriff and Rolen, the Hall of Fame now has 342 elected members, including 270 former players, 40 executives or pioneers, 22 managers, and 10 umpires.
Of the 75 living players, more than 50 came to Cooperstown for this year’s Induction Weekend.
Events include the 13th annual red carpet Parade of Legends along Main Street, an informal roundtable the morning after the inductions, and an awards presentation featuring 95-year-old Carl Erskine receiving the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition, Pat Hughes will receive the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting and John Lowe the Career Excellence Award from the BBWAA.
Brian Kenny of MLB Network will emcee the ceremonies.
More than 40,000 spectators have attended five of the last eight inductions, with a record 82,500 turning out to see Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn in 2007.
Willie Mays, 91, is the oldest living Hall of Famer while Sandy Koufax is the youngest. He was 36 when elected in 1972.
Rolen is the ninth Hall of Fame third baseman chosen by the writers and the 18th chosen by any method. He played for four different teams, while McGriff, a first baseman who hit 493 home runs, played for six.
Fifty-six members of the Hall of Fame spent their entire careers with one club.
Upcoming elections are expected to increase the number of bronze plaques in the Cooperstown gallery. Both Ichico and CC Sabathia are eligible in 2025, Ryan Braun and Edwin Encarnacion in 2026, Buster Posey and Jon Lester in 2027, and Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols in 2028.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschlossberg/2023/07/22/expect-more-hall-of-fame-electees-for-cooperstowns-class-of-2024/