Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas earn Hall of Fame honors

[03EBZ06]

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas earn Hall of Fame honors as largest class since 1999 is elected

Last year, not a single player was selected by baseball writers for induction into the Hall of Fame. This year, it's a different story.

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were announced as Hall of Famers on Wednesday, as the Baseball Writers Association of America has elected its largest Hall of Fame class since 1999. Craig Biggio, who was projected to get in, missed the cut by a very slim margin — just two votes.

To earn induction, players needed 75 percent of the vote. Maddux topped the list with 97.2 percent, followed by Glavine (91.9) and Thomas (83.7). The last time three players were elected by the BBWAA, in 1999, the nods went to George Brett, Nolan Ryan and Robin Yount.

Missing the cut this year were Biggio (74.8), Mike Piazza (62.2), Jack Morris (61.5), Jeff Bagwell (54.3) and Tim Raines (46.1). This was Morris' final year on the ballot. His divisive case — sabermetrics believers don't think he's worthy, while old-school types often do — will now be left up to the Veterans Committee in 2016.

Voters — there were 571 this year — were allowed to select 10 players from the ballot of 36, but some voters said they thought there were as many as 13 worthy players this year. That split the vote some, and ultimately hurt the numbers for Biggio, Piazza and others.

Most of the players in limbo will be back, as BBWAA voters still wrestle with the moral dilemma of enshrining players such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who have been linked to PEDs. Bonds received 34.7 percent of the vote, while Clemens did slightly better at 35.4. Both players dropped about two percent from their 2013 totals. One PED-linked player, Rafael Palmeiro, did drop off the ballot after getting just 4.4 percent of the vote.

Had Biggio gotten through on the BBWAA ballot, it would have been the first four-player class since 1955. That was Joe DiMaggio's class, which also included Dazzy Vance, Ted Lyons and Gabby Hartnett.

For the rest ---> http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-b...ne-frank-thomas-earn-hall-191050593--mlb.html

 

[Tabascocat]

Biggio and Piazza should have gotten in before Glavine IMO.

 

[Jammer]

Biggio and Piazza should have gotten in before Glavine IMO.

Glavine was a 2-time Cy Young award winner, and won over 300 games. Only 23 other pitchers have won over 300 games. He was also a World Series MVP. How can you argue that?

 

[Tabascocat]

Glavine was a 2-time Cy Young award winner, and won over 300 games. Only 23 other pitchers have won over 300 games. He was also a World Series MVP. How can you argue that?

Didn't say he should not get in, he should but not before the two mentioned above, especially Biggio. Glavine got the benefit of a lot of suspect strike calls(mostly low corners) for him while in Atlanta. When he went to NY, he no longer received the same calls and his game wasn't as good.

Being a Mets fan, I watched him a lot and he was a really good pitcher but I don't think a first ballot guy. Biggio snubbed twice, something isn't right.

 

[joseephuss]

Didn't say he should not get in, he should but not before the two mentioned above, especially Biggio. Glavine got the benefit of a lot of suspect strike calls(mostly low corners) for him while in Atlanta. When he went to NY, he no longer received the same calls and his game wasn't as good.

Being a Mets fan, I watched him a lot and he was a really good pitcher but I don't think a first ballot guy. Biggio snubbed twice, something isn't right.

That is because while he was in New York the league had implemented the computerized strike zone system. All those pitches just off the plate that the umps would give him as strikes were now being called balls. It really hampered him that he couldn't get those calls.

I'm a big Biggio fan and I don't think he is HoF worthy. He was always good to very good, but I never considered him great in any one season. Him getting to 3000 hits was a nice accomplishment, but he just never seemed like one of the best players in the league in any given season. To me he is just outside of the HoF.

 

[Tabascocat]

I'm a big Biggio fan and I don't think he is HoF worthy. He was always good to very good, but I never considered him great in any one season. Him getting to 3000 hits was a nice accomplishment, but he just never seemed like one of the best players in the league in any given season. To me he is just outside of the HoF.

Yea, he was never great in any particular season but the guy was very consistent. All of the members of the 3k hit club are in or will be except Rose and Palmiero(both should be but may never get in) and Jeter will get it once eligible.

Craig was an all-star at catcher, 2B and I think as an outfielder too, not sure on that one. He had four gold gloves and many silver slugger awards. I never liked the Astros but he is the one guy that deserves it that is not in. He played the game the right way IMO.

 

[joseephuss]

I hope Biggio does make it in, but in my personal opinion he is not a true Hall of Famer. I think he will make it next year. It probably actually helps him that he isn't linked(at least I had not heard a link) to PEDs.

Out of the 28 guys who had 3000 hits Biggio ranks 26th in batting average(0.281). Only Ricky Henderson(0.279) and Cal Ripken(0.26) had lower averages. Ricky is the all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored. Henderson also has a 0.401 on base percentage compared to Biggio's 0.363. Cal Ripken had 431 HRs, went to 19 All-Star games and was a 2 time MVP.

 

[Jammer]

Cal Ripken had 431 HRs, went to 19 All-Star games and was a 2 time MVP.

And he is the Ironman of Baseball.

 

[Tabascocat]

I can't believe I am arguing for an Astro(and not Piazza) to get in, heh. My whole argument revolves around Barry Larkin and to some extent, Robbie Alomar. Since they got in(especially Larkin), so should Biggio.

I know there has to be a line somewhere or others will get in that shouldn't be there. Edgar Martinez comes to mind. Although he was mostly a DH, he should get in, after all, MLB created the DH even if it is not a true position.

I heard one or two voters actually voted for Armando Benitez to get in, they need their privileges revoked!

 

[joseephuss]

I can't believe I am arguing for an Astro(and not Piazza) to get in, heh. My whole argument revolves around Barry Larkin and to some extent, Robbie Alomar. Since they got in(especially Larkin), so should Biggio.

I know there has to be a line somewhere or others will get in that shouldn't be there. Edgar Martinez comes to mind. Although he was mostly a DH, he should get in, after all, MLB created the DH even if it is not a true position.

I heard one or two voters actually voted for Armando Benitez to get in, they need their privileges revoked!

There are plenty of guys who should have their voting privileges revoked. The fact that no player has ever received a unanimous vote tells you all you need to know about voters.

I don't like the argument that since someone who may be undeserving should be in because someone who may have been undeserving got in. If they did indeed made a mistake voting in Larkin and Alomar I don't like the idea of making another mistake with Biggio or anyone else. Baseball has definitely had their share of questionable guys voted in or left out. And now the whole PED era is really going to confuse things.

 

[ologan]

I seem to recall that Biggio also had some super number of doubles combined with stolen bases that was the record for MLB. Could be wrong....old age and all!

 

[joseephuss]

I seem to recall that Biggio also had some super number of doubles combined with stolen bases that was the record for MLB. Could be wrong....old age and all!

That is a strange combo of stats I had not heard of before. Biggio is 5th all-time with 668 doubles and 66th all-time with 414 stolen bases. That totals 1082. As a comparison, Rickey Henderson is 52nd all-time with 510 doubles and 1st all-time with 1406 stolen bases. That totals 1916. Lou Brock totals 1424.

Biggio ranks 10th all-time in plate appearances. He also ranks 2nd all-time in times hit by a pitch.

 

[Future]

Didn't say he should not get in, he should but not before the two mentioned above, especially Biggio. Glavine got the benefit of a lot of suspect strike calls(mostly low corners) for him while in Atlanta. When he went to NY, he no longer received the same calls and his game wasn't as good.

Being a Mets fan, I watched him a lot and he was a really good pitcher but I don't think a first ballot guy. Biggio snubbed twice, something isn't right.

There's no way a serious Mets fan can give an objective opinion on a Braves pitcher, especially from that era.

That would be like me, as a Cowboys fan, talking about Eli and trying to be realistic.

 

[Tabascocat]

There's no way a serious Mets fan can give an objective opinion on a Braves pitcher, especially from that era.

That would be like me, as a Cowboys fan, talking about Eli and trying to be realistic.

Don't see why not. That was in an era that if we wanted to watch ball, it was on TBS, WGN or an occasional ESPN game. Being in the same division, I followed them closely and he also pitched for the Mets. I have seen him pitch many, many times for both clubs.

I never said he was mediocre or anything, just that he got extra help from a questionable strikezone, Maddux and Smoltz. He should be in the Hall, but as a first ballot? I don't think so. He was a really good pitcher but he did not have the nasty or dominating stuff, he just located it well. When that stopped, he went down a few notches.

People want to say......but, but he won 300 games. Well, Biggio hit for over 3k, it works both ways.

I don't like the way players are voted in, it seems to wishy-washy and the opinions of those who never even played the game. Suspected of steroids, not getting in. Bet on a few games, sorry.

Luis Gonzales is another example. The guy had one major season and the rest were just blah to decent, why is he even on the ballot? It is pretty obvious he juiced as well(links to Bagwell).

Just because I hate the Braves, doesn't mean I can't give a fair opinion on them......know them well. I can't stand Jones, but Larry will be a first ballot guy and most likely Smoltz too. Bobby Cox will get his day as well.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Didn't say he should not get in, he should but not before the two mentioned above, especially Biggio. Glavine got the benefit of a lot of suspect strike calls(mostly low corners) for him while in Atlanta. When he went to NY, he no longer received the same calls and his game wasn't as good.

Being a Mets fan, I watched him a lot and he was a really good pitcher but I don't think a first ballot guy. Biggio snubbed twice, something isn't right.

Order doesn't matter. They are all Hall of Famers and Biggio will get in next year. Piazza is suffering from PED speculation; who knows what will happen there.

But Glavine is a clear-cut, no-doubt HOFer who absolutely deserved to sail in the way he did. He was 37 when he went to the Mets, so I don't see how it's surprising that he wasn't as good at that point in his career. And he did have 2 years with the Mets that were as good as his last 2 years with the Braves.

And Glavine getting all those calls is an argument in his favor, not against him. He had a tremendous ability to take advantage of the way the strike zone was called and he used that ability to its fullest.

 

[CashMan]

Didn't say he should not get in, he should but not before the two mentioned above, especially Biggio. Glavine got the benefit of a lot of suspect strike calls(mostly low corners) for him while in Atlanta. When he went to NY, he no longer received the same calls and his game wasn't as good.

Being a Mets fan, I watched him a lot and he was a really good pitcher but I don't think a first ballot guy. Biggio snubbed twice, something isn't right.

Glavine was 37, when he got to NY. Pitchers do not get a second prime, unless their name is Clemens.

 

[Derinyar]

All three who got elected this year were no doubt HOF guys. There's still Bagwell, Piazza, and Biggio who probably should be. I'd argue among pitchers that Mussina and Schilling deserve some serious consideration. If PED weren't an issue its obvious that Clemens and Bonds should be in as they are two of the ten or so best players in history.

As far as making an argument for Biggio it's really pretty simple. He's a top 10-15 2b all time. He spent the prime of his career in one of the worst offensive parks in baseball. He spent time at catcher, which also frequently depresses offense. Is Biggio a player who is going to be in the same strata as Hornsby and Morgan? No, but he passes pretty much every test of a 2b HOF. He might be a little below the average there, but being slightly below the average HOF at your position means you're a HOF player.

To me the problem with the ballot is that too many voters are making a statement with their ballot. The guy who turned in a blank ballot really didn't take it seriously. The guy who only voted for Jack Morris didn't take it seriously. I can understand leaving off PED players if you're consistent with that but reaching past better players to put on a lesser player is how this ballot got so crowded and where the voters really need to put in 3-5 players a year for the next few years to actually clear the ballot of qualified players. Next year Randy Johnson and Pedro should sail in. Very good arguments can be made for Sheffield, Smoltz and Garciaparra. Its a crowded ballot if you don't consider Bonds/Clemens and the other guys with rumors.

 

[KoRnyBrad]

Big Hurt was one of the reasons I started following White Sox baseball, glad he got in.