Scott Rolen was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, preventing a shutout for the first time in three years by the BBWAA ballot.
Twenty-seven other players listed in the 2023 Hall ballot did not clear the election’s 75% threshold, but had several near misses. was revealed on Tuesday during the airing of
Longtime third baseman Lauren was named sixth-year eligible with 76.3% of the vote. Missing is former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, who received 72.2% support in his fifth election.
A player may participate in voting for 10 seasons after a waiting period of 5 years after retirement if nominated with at least 5% of the votes during the voting cycle.
“You’re not thinking about this,” Lauren told MLB Network. I didn’t expect it to be the answer.”
During his 17-year career, Lauren played for the Phillies, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Reds, and was a seven-time All-Star. His eight golds and his grabs are his fourth-most for a third baseman. His 1997 NL Rookie of the Year was a member of the Cardinals as the club won his 2006 World Series.
Ranked fifth in the WAR of career third basemen, according to Baseball-Reference.com, Lauren was selected in just 10.2% of the ballots in his first year of qualification in 2018, but with each passing voting cycle, quickly gained support.
The same upward trend applies to Helton, who started 2019 at 16.5%. his job at first base.
Other players nominated with more than half of the votes included Billy Wagner (68.1%), Andrew Jones (58.1%) and Gary Sheffield (55%).
One of the most dominant relievers of his era, Wagner has a steady following. He got his support with 51% of the votes last year. Next year will be his ninth season of eligibility.
Lauren’s election result was narrow, meaning the BBWAA has declined to elect a new member only nine times in its voting history. The writers didn’t pick anyone for 2021 either. Last year, only Red Sox great David Ortiz was chosen by the writers.
A three-year period in which the BBWAA has selected just two players is comparable to historical lows. Since annual voting was made permanent in 1966, the writers have never failed to elect at least two players in his three years. They also elected his three years through 1968 and just his two players each season from 1996-1998.
Ironically, the voter deficit comes just a few years after a particular prolific period of voting by the writers. In the three years ending in 2019, the BBWAA elected his 11 new Hall members, and in the five years from 2015 through 2019, he had 17 new Hall of Fame members tabbed by the writers.
Unlike 2021, when for the first time since 1960 no new inductees were elected by the Writers or Era Committee, the induction ceremony in Cooperstown on July 23 will include at least two new inductees. give a speech. Soft-spoken Fred McGriff enters the hall with Lauren after being elected by the Times Committee at the Winter Conference in San Diego in December.
Progress has been slow for some controversial candidates whose performances met traditional Hall of Fame criteria but saw their cases marred by association with PED.
With 3,115 hits, 696 home runs and 2,086 RBIs, Alex Rodriguez’s second-year voter turnout increased from 34.3% to 35.7%. Rodriguez missed the 2014 season after being suspended for violating MLB’s PED policy.
Similarly, Manny Ramirez, who batted .312 with 555 homers and was suspended twice for PED violations, made little progress in the seventh ballot. After landing at 28.9% last year, Ramirez has taken a step forward to 33.2% this time.
Conversely, fearsome slugger Sheffield has picked up a bit of momentum in his ninth year of qualification. Last year it was 40.6%. Although he hit 509 home runs, Sheffield, named Mitchell in his report for 2007, was never disciplined for using a PED. Next season will be his 10th and final chance to win the Writers’ Poll.
Of the 14 first-time voters, only two received the 5% support necessary to carry over to the next round of consideration.
One of the first voters was Carlos Beltrán, who received 46.5% of the vote. Beltran’s Hall case is solid on 435 home runs, 312 stolen bases, 2,725 hits, and a career merit that saw him one of baseball’s brightest postseason records.
Beltran was at the center of the controversial sign-stealing scandal that tainted the Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series title, which Beltran played for. His association with the controversy later led to his resignation as manager of the New York Mets before his first season in that role.
It’s unclear what role the scandal played in Beltran’s loss on the first ballot, but his level of support will help him in the future and, perhaps, the candidacy of that Astros team’s other standout candidates. It’s a good sign for
Another rookie on the ballot was reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who had a 10.8% turnout with 437 saves.
Voters have been stingy in recent years, but next year could be a more lively inaugural week with many interesting candidates qualifying. The rookie list is led by third baseman Adrian Beltre, catcher Joe Mauer and second baseman Chase Utley.
