While Todd Helton is setting the pace for this group, Alex Rodriguez is the most notable name on the list. He nearly won the MVP in 2005 when he earned 23 of the Triple Crown while posting a .922 OPS. Whoever gets the nod will be inducted, alongside Fred McGriff (more on him later), on July 23rd. Jones has a very clear Hall of Fame resume. Todd Helton (52 percent) and Billy Wagner (51 percent) are the only other candidates who received at least 50 percent of the BBWAA vote in 2022. In terms of accolades, his three top-five Cy Young Award finishes ties him for sixth-most among relievers that started fewer than 40 games in their careers. With controversial figures Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens no longer eligible, select analysts from The Athletes Hub will answer questions surrounding this years intriguing line-up which includes returning superstars Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez as well as many other notable names hoping to register improved results or gain election on their first attempt. First year on the ballotPitched 16 seasons with the Pirates, Red Sox, Reds and Diamondbacks2006 All-Star led his league in games started twice (2006, 2008) and innings pitched once (2006)Finished 12th in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2010 and also won Gold Glove Award that yearLed NL in shutouts with two in 2009Reached double-digits in victories in eight seasonsReached 200-innings pitched mark in eight seasonsPitched in seven Postseason series over five seasons, going 1-0 with 4.60 ERA over 12 games, including four startsMember 2004 Red Sox World Series title team. I wanted to vote for a 10th player, but after digging into the numbers, I just couldnt do it. For a detailed introduction to this year's ballot and other candidates in the series, use the tool above; an introduction to JAWS can be found here.For a tentative schedule and a chance to fill out a Hall of Fame ballot for our crowdsourcing project, see here. But none rise quite to the level of controversy of Bonds, Clemens, Schilling or Rodriguez. But will his vote total catch up to his career numbers? Next year, the ballot will look significantly different, with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling off it after their 10th and final years of eligibility in 2022. Among the returning candidates, three received more than 50 percent of the vote in 2022, with 75 percent needed for election: Scott Rolen (63.2 percent), Todd Helton (52 percent) and Billy Wagner (51 percent). They'll be on their second, third, fourth, or fifth ballots. Why wait? He is just shy of the average WAR (71.9) of the 19 center fielders previously enshrined. To summarize, I do think hell top 20% this time around as voters will see his name and link it positively to part of a noteworthy period of baseball history. Matthew Partridge has a wealth of sports writing, producing and directing experience. Lets not overthink this: dude played electrifying baseball for years, posted a career .837 OPS while accumulating north of 70 bWAR, won two Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves, made nine All-Star teams, and won Rookie of the Year. The 2023 MLB Hall of Fame ballot has officially been released, and there are several surprises throwing fans for a loop that were revealed. Again, look at McGriff. He posted 60.2 bWAR. Wagners career ERA was 2.31 and his WHIP was 1.00. Matt Partridge: Other than Beltrn, no name leaps off the page to me as a first-time calibre entrant, but when you dig a little deeper and begin to consider factors such as longevity, clutch, reliability, and regular performances on the center-stage, my vote would go to John Lackey. Helton won one batting title in his career, won three Gold Glove Awards, four Silver Slugger Awards, was a five-time All Star. According to the ballot tracker as of January 6th from Ryan Thibodaux (@NotMrTibbs on Twitter), Beltrn is sitting right at 56.3%. The Baseball Writers Association of America revealed the newest ballot on Monday. His career stolen base success rate of 85.16 ranks third all-time among players with at least 100 stolen base attempts. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. (Los Angeles Angles). Helton currently has a similar percentage of votes through January 6th as Scott Rolen (81.3%), who is seen as close to a sure thing, with 78.9%. His combination of size (6'4", 245 pounds), strength and athleticism made . Rolen's stock has gone up every year he has been on it, while other players could pick up precious votes. He hit .300-or-better in four seasons, drove in 100-or-more runs seven times, scored 100-or-more runs six times and reached the 20-homer mark 12 times. As of now, only eight players considered to be relievers have been enshrined, three of which have been elected since 2018. Billy Wagner recorded 422 career saves, second-highest among left-handed relievers and sixth overall. Lets hope these feats dont go unnoticed by the voters. He reached the 20-homer mark in eight seasons and the 100-RBI mark in 2016 while helping Cleveland win the American League pennant. 8. Many thanks to him. It will be interesting to monitor Wagner alongside K-Rod, with two of the most dominant closers of their times vying for election. Bronson Arroyo pitched in 16 seasons with the Pirates, Red Sox, Reds and Diamondbacks. Will A-Rod follow a similar trajectory to those two -- all-time greats who ultimately fell short of being voted into the Hall? No, the former Pirates and Mets outfielder of the same name from 1951 to 1966 has passed away. Im not so sure about Kent and Sheffield, though I, obviously, think both are more than deserving. The sign-stealing had minimal impact on his own personal stat lines and I believe there is a strong case for this being overlooked and Beltrn being enshrined. Two were suspended for steroid use (Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez).. The blemishes that likely clouded voters decisions in the past were the aforementioned deficiencies in the field and links to the BALCO performance-enhancing drugs scandal. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Rodriguez's 696 home runs, 3,115 hits and three MVP Awards speak for themselves, but he got just over a third of the vote in his Hall of Fame ballot debut in 2022 (34.3%), likely due to the same PED concerns that plagued Bonds and Clemens. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). But theres at least one guy on there, probably more than that, who deserves enshrinement in Cooperstown. His case is pretty clear. Davis Byrd: I think this honor will belong to one Andruw Jones. Ohtani free agent predictions. Previously a sports researcher at Sky Sports, he then moved into live broadcasts and on-air promotions. He's fine and still hawking supplements on TV. Sunday will mark the enshrinement of seven players, led by David Ortiz, into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Call it the Bud Selig Wing for all I care. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Combining his efforts at the dish and in the grass paints a picture of a Hall-of-Famer. There was something of a logjam in Hall of Fame voting in recent years, but with Bonds, Clemens, Schilling and Sammy Sosa all leaving the ballot, and David Ortiz being elected on his first ballot in 2022, that could clear the way for other players to gain ground in the voting. He was the premium defender in center for the peak of his career. That is a bizarre, and false, concept. Whether or not the voters take into account the Houston Astros cheating scandal will be the biggest topic of discussion. Rolen was a superlative fielder, securing eight Gold Glove Awards (behind only Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt in the category of third basemen) and was none too shabby with the bat either, with a .281 career batting average and many stand-out performances from his 17-year career. For information on how to sponsor a Hugs for Cubs kid in 2023, visit www.sbforesters.org or write to info@sbforesters.org. The results will be announced by Hall of Fame president Josh Rawitch at 6 p.m. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. NFL. He won the 2000 MVP as a member of the Giants, reached five All-Star Games (Im sensing a theme) and earned four Silver Sluggers. His career bWAR of 62.7 is the 14th-most recorded by a center fielder and his JAWS score of 54.6 places him as the 11th-most deserving of enshrinement at his position. The only knock against Jones is his production post age-30, leaving the case for his lack of longevity to be made. More Awards Pages Awards Index MVP Cy Young Batting Champs Triple Crowns Gold Gloves National League American League Sixth year on the ballotPlayed 17 seasons for Phillies, Cardinals, Blue Jays and RedsNamed National League Rookie of the Year in 1997Seven-time All-Star (2002-06, 2010-11) and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner at third base (1998, 2000-04, 2006, 2010)Won NL Silver Slugger Award for third basemen in 2002Finished fourth in 2004 NL Most Valuable Player votingReached the 20-home run mark in 10 seasons (1997-2004, 2006, 2010)Hit .300-or-better in two seasons (2004, 2009)Reached the 100-RBI mark in five seasons (1998, 2001-04) and scored 100-or-more runs twice (1998, 2004)Led NL in putouts by third basemen twice (1997-98) and assists twice (2002, 2004)Appeared in nine Postseason series over five seasons, hitting .220 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 39 gamesHit .421 with five runs scored in five games to help lead Cardinals to win in 2006 World Series. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. As the keepers of the Games history, the Hall of Fame helps you relive your memories and celebrate baseball history. That's a reduction of 28% over seven years. Ramirez blasted 555 home runs over his illustrious career that included helping the Red Sox break The Curse in 2004. First year on the ballotPlayed 12 seasons, all with the DodgersFinished fifth in 2006 National League Rookie of the Year votingTwo-time All-Star (2010-11) finished sixth in 2009 National League Most Valuable Player Award votingWon 2009 Silver Slugger Award for right fieldersWon 2011 Gold Glove AwardHit better than .300 in two seasons (2006, 2008), reached 20-homer mark four times (2008-10, 2012) and topped 100 RBI once (2009)Topped NL right fielders in fielding percentage three times (2008, 2010-11)Appeared in 14 Postseason series over eight seasons, hitting .246 in 51 games with 18 runs scored, five homers and 11 RBI. (Brad Mangin/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). Helton was arguably robbed of the NL MVP award in 2000 when he finished fifth despite leading the league in WAR with 8.9, hits with 216, RBI with 147, and led the league in AVG, OBP, SLG, and OPS. In two weeks (January 24), the Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce the results of its 2023 Hall of Fame election. Last year, Rodriguez (34.3% of the vote) and Ramirez (28.9%) wouldnt have gotten into the Hall of Fame even if they combined their respective shares of Hall votes. This argument that his later seasons should detract from his earlier career accomplishments is asinine. The 2023 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot was revealed on Monday. Can A-Rod restore his image with voters over the next few years? Third year on the ballotPitched 16 seasons for White Sox, Marlins and Blue JaysRecorded 14 200-plus inning seasons, all consecutively (2001-14), to set American League record Led AL in innings pitched twice (2004-05) and games started twice (2004, 2008)Finished fifth in 2005 AL Cy Young Award votingNamed to five All-Star teams (2002, 2005-06, 2009, 2014), drawing starting assignment for AL in 2005 Mid-Summer ClassicFour-time Gold Glove Award winner (2009-12)Led league in assists among pitchers in five seasons (2001-02, 2004, 2009, 2012)Led MLB in complete games with four during his final season of 2015Won 13-or-more games in 12 of his 16 seasonsPitched no-hitter for White Sox against the Rangers on April 18, 2007Pitched perfect game for White Sox against Rays on July 23, 2009Appeared in five Postseason series, posting 2-1 record with 4.11 ERA over six games, including four startsWent 2-0 over four games during 2005 Postseason while helping White Sox win World Series title. Find out more. Here in part two . That may clear the way for others to garner more support, given that an increasing number of voters are selecting the maximum of 10 candidates on their ballots. First year on the ballotPlayed 11 seasons for Red Sox and YankeesHit .353 in his first year in the big leagues in 2007, helping Red Sox win World Series titleFinished third in American League Rookie of the Year balloting in the following season, leading AL with 50 stolen basesAlso led AL in steals in 2009 and 2013Led league in triples with 10 in 2009 and paced AL with 364 total bases in 2011Finished second in AL Most Valuable Player voting in 2011 after hitting .321 with 32 homers, 105 RBI, 119 runs scored and 39 steals, becoming the first Red Sox player with a 30 homer/30 steal seasonWon Gold Glove Award for his play in center field and Silver Slugger Award in 2011Hit better than .300 in two full seasons (2009, 2011)Appeared in 13 Postseason series over six seasons, hitting .280 with 27 runs scored and 11 steals in 45 gamesMember of Red Sox World Series title teams in 2007 and 2013. After leaving Boston, he bounced around a couple of teams as his career died, but those first 15-and-a-half years with Cleveland and Boston were mesmerizing. Come out and see the Royals before they leave for Arizona! Nine of the 17 holdovers on the 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot moved up in this year's voting by the baseball writers and moved closer to the magical 75 per cent required for election. Writers can select up to 10 players on their ballot. A player must receive 75 percent of the writers' vote to get in. That means 2023 marks the earliest date that Wade, Nowitzki, and Parker can be inducted in the HOF. Over his career, Pettitte reached three All-Star Games while winning five World Series with the Yankees. Jones was one of the best fielders of his generation and can easily be considered a top-three defensive center fielder of all time. Who might enter Cooperstown in the Class of 2023? (He was also part of the 2007 championship team.) With the 2020-21 NHL season underway, we more or less have our class of new eligibles for the 2023 Hall of Fame locked in. Im going to use this section to make the case for Andruw Jones who has garnered 69.5% of the votes on public ballots as of January 2nd. The star third baseman has made big leaps in the voting every year he's been on the ballot and is fast closing in on the 75% threshold for election. These are players who will be appearing on their sixth (or more) ballot. . Pre-planned trips from travel specialists. Given their track record an enormous. Beltrn screams Hall of Famer. I keep going back to the known ballots and Hall of Fame tracker done by Ryan Thibodaux and others. A players case can grow exponentially from year to year as ballots clear up, voters look harder at resumes, and that dreaded 10th year arrises. deserve to also be in the Hall of Fame. 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame predictions: 6 players who should get the call. Davis Byrd: No. Helton is also above the 75% mark, but just barely, at 77.9%. He appeared in 14 Postseason series over eight seasons, hitting .246 in 51 games with 18 runs scored, five homers and 11 RBI. In terms of WAR, Beltrn stands out as the eighth-best center fielder of all time with 70.1 bWAR, putting him in between Joe DiMaggio and Kenny Lofton among his peers. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He is one of only nine pitchers in history with at least 300 saves and 1,100 strikeouts. Thats why he lasted 22 years and still posted a career 60.5 bWAR. email: sports@newspress.com. His era and ballpark adjusted career wRC+ of 118 is tied for 43rd among batters with at least 10,000 plate appearances since integration in 1947, but it becomes even more impressive when you adjust for his handedness and position. Baseball Reference's Hall of Fame monitor gives Posada, a five-time All-Star, a rating of 98, and deems anyone with 100 points to be a "likely Hall of Famer." 275 homers and a 121 OPS+ for . Ortiz was the only player voted in by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Here's what to watch for this year. Arizona Diamondbacks. (Rich Pilling/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). Second year on the ballotPlayed 17 seasons for Phillies, Dodgers and White SoxFinished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2001 after hitting .274 with league-leading totals in triples (12) and stolen bases (46)Three-time All-Star (2001-02, 2005) and four-time Gold Glove Award winner at shortstop (2007-09, 2012)Earned National League Most Valuable Player honors in 2007 after hitting .296 with NL-best 139 runs scored and 20 triplesNamed 2007 NL Silver Slugger Award winner at shortstopReached the 100-runs scored mark in six seasons (2004-07, 2009, 2012), stolen 20-or-more bases in 13 seasons (2001-09, 2011-14) and hit 20-or-more home runs in four seasons (2006-07, 2009, 2012)Led NL in triples four times (2001-02, 2004, 2007), at-bats four times (2001-02, 2007, 2009), runs once (2007) and stolen bases once (2001)In 2007, became the third shortstop in history to record 30 home run/30 steal seasonRanks 46th all-time with 470 stolen basesRanks fourth all-time in career fielding percentage among shortstops (.983)Among players who appeared in at least half their games at shortstop, the only player in history with at least 500 doubles, 200 home runs and 400 stolen basesWon 2014 Roberto Clemente AwardAppeared in 11 Postseason series over six seasons, hitting .246 with 27 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in 50 gamesMember of Phillies 2008 World Championship team.