2008 Hall of Fame?

Question

No one will argue that Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripkin deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, but is there a player from the 2008 eligible inductees that deserves to be elected into the Hall of Fame next year?

Brady Anderson, Andy Benes, Delino DeShields, Shawon Dunston, Chuck Finley, Travis Fryman, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch, Mike Morgan, Robb Nen, Tim Raines, Greg Swindell, Randy Velarde, Mark Wohlers

Answer 1

Raines is the only 2008 ballot rookie who merits election. I don't think he'll get it first chance, though. He may very well be the only rookie to exceed the 5% retention minimum.

Among ballot returnees, I'm fairly certain Gossage finally gets the golden ticket -- he passed 71% last year, so that automatically makes him the headliner next time.

Here's the top seven who did not get elected in 2007:
Gossage 71.2%
Rice 63.5%
Dawson 56.7%
Blyleven 47.7%
Smith 39.8%
Morris 37.1%
McGwire 23.5%

Quick rundown, 2008 predictions:
Gossage gets in.

Rice finally passes 70%, meaning he'll get elected in 2009, his last time on the BBWAA ballot.

Dawson falls short.

Blyleven goes back above 50%; if he manages to crest 60%, he gets in before his clock runs out.

Smith and Morris move up but miss 50%. They still have long clocks.

McGwire is the great unknown. Was the 2007 return a one-time condemnation (which was predictable)? Or is this Garveyesque percentage his lasting fate?

Henderson is not eligible until 2009, barring a comeback.

Answer 2

That's the list of first time eligible former players. The list for elibigility will also include players who are still eligible from previous years, including but not limited to Jim Rice, Mark McGwire, Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris.

Of the first-time eligible players, I can see only Tim Raines as a possible inductee (SB%, lead off hitter), but 2008 could well be the year that Dawson and Morris are elected.

Answer 3

What about Rickey Henderson, David Cone, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Mo Vaughn, Matt Williams, Charles Nagy, Steve Avery, Denny Neagle, Mark Grace, etc.? Won't they also be eligible in 2008? If they are I would vote for Henderson.

There are other players such as Jim McCormick, Bob Caruthers, Tony Mullane, Bobby Mathews, Will White, Lee Smith, Charlie Buffinton, Jim Kaat, Mark McGwire, Gus Weyhing, etc. who deserve consideration as well.

Answer 4

Jim Rice, Mark McGwire, Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris all deserve to be put in the Hall of Fame.

It would be great to see about 8 players inducted at once.The above mentioned guys are better than many already inducted.

Answer 5

i agree with everyone else, tim raines deserves consideration but definately not a first ballot hall of famer, as for the hold overs IE morris, blylevan, dawson, rice, and gossage, i would like to see at least 3 of these 5 make it, and as i see it now 2009 isnt much stronger for the exception of Ricky Henderson
but the tricky part of getting all or any of these hold overs in the Hall will be getting all the voters on the same page as the fans.

Answer 6

Tim Raines

Answer 7

I really don't see any of these guys receiving %75 of the votes. The only one I could see getting close is Tim Raines, who had 51 consecutive steals without being caught.

Answer 8

david justice basically won the world series for atlanta

Answer 9

knoblauch mite make it

Answer 10

robb Nen... only one