First Ballot HOF?

Question

Out of these players on the downside of their career who do you think will be First Ballot HOFers.
Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens, Frank Thomas, Julio Franco, etc. Feel free to add your own players as you wish.

Downside: nearing the end of their career.

Answer 1

I think Glavine, Johnson, Maddux, Smoltz and Clemens are all defenitely first ballot hall of famers.

Mariano Rivera will probably get in.

I'm up in the air about Frank Thomas making it at all.

I love Julio Franco, but there's no way he makes the HOF.

Answer 2

The obvious first ballots go to Clemens and Rivera. Maddux, Glavine, and Johnson have been in the game long enough to compile the stats that give them the first ballot as well. Smoltz will be questionable, probably depending on how he finishes out his career. I don't think that the big hurt, Frank Thomas, will get in at all, and Julio Franco has even less of a chance than him.

Answer 3

Of those players I would say Maddux, Johnson and Clemens are first ballot guaranteed. Glavine and Smoltz have a shot but sure could use a championship. Rivera needs to keep up his pace for a few more years. Thomas is just another Edgar Martinez. Franco doesn't have the numbers.

Answer 4

Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens are first ballot hall of famers. You seem to be forgetting Ken Griffy Jr. He was the all decade performer in the '90s as the best player of the '90s both offensively and defensively playing centerfield while a member of the Mariners. He is hitting his stride again after the injury bug has plagued him. He is an older player as well on the down side of his career. And his swing is classic.

Answer 5

Clemens, Maddox, Glavine are definite first ballot HOFs. But what's your definition of downside of career? I would say all of those guys are less effective now than in their prime, except Smoltz. I would argue that out of all those pitchers, Smoltz and Clemens are still as highly effective now as they were in their prime. But since everybody knows when Clemens takes a dump nowadays, I'll argue on Smoltz's behalf... Since '05 (returning to the rotation) he's had two great seasons which he's won 14 and 16 games with a faulty bullpen who blew more than 6 games for him each year... meaning he probably would have been a 20 win pitcher with a sub 3.50 ERA. In '05 he had 169 Ks, '06 he had 211 Ks, not to mention logging well over 200 IP... impressive for someone in the "downside" of his career. If he hadn't become a closer he'd be nearing his 300th win instead of 200th. However a +200 win, 154 save, 3.27 ERA, +2800 K, one Cy Young career is definitely first ballot worthy, but I feel like he won't get in until his second or third... hopefully I'm wrong and he'll get the respect he deserves.

Answer 6

I think Clemens, Mariano, Greg Maddux, and Randy Johnson. Julio will never get there and Glavine all he has is 300 wins i don't think he will be a 1st ballot but probably 2nd ballot. Thomas may get in if he gets 500 but it's not certain.

Answer 7

From your list, and barring any negative information coming to light (no, I have no insights there, but McGwire got a mighty smackdown):

First ballot -- Clemens, Maddux, Johnson, and Thomas. The three pitchers are ridiculously overqualified for Cooperstown.

Should be first ballot, but would probably require too much thought on the parts of the writers: Glavine.

First ballot return depends on whether relievers have begun to get due respect: Rivera

Gets in sometime between 2nd-5th ballots: Smoltz.

Not Hall material: Franco.

Now that Ripken is in, I think Clemens is the only reasonable candidate for a unanimous induction vote by the writers. I don't think he will get 100%, but of all the forseeable candidates over the next ten years, he'd be the one. (It surely won't be Bonds.)

Answer 8

Maddux and Clemens are definite first ballot HOF'ers. I think many people are forgetting how dominating Maddux was in the 90's. Rivera should also be a first ballot but i don't know about the others (as far as first ballot at least). Other first ballot HOF'ers: Derek Jeter (most likely a 3,000 hit club member too), Alex Roderiguez, Ken Griffey Jr. (remeber how great the kid was? MVP awards, multiple gold gloves, power, and NOONE is questioning whether he did it naturally or not), Pudge Roderiguez... i'm sure there are more but those are my slam dunk guys.

Answer 9

Glavine, Johnson, Maddux, Rivera, Clemens, Biggio, Griffey, A-Rod, would all be first ballot guys if they retired today. Smoltz and Thomas will make it in as well, but not on the first ballot.

Answer 10

Rivera and Clemens will be 1st ballot.
Johnson, Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, and Thomas will be in, but not 1st ballot (although they should be).
Franco might not get in.