As a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (BBA), I am pleased to share the BBA’s announcement that seven players from this year’s Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) Hall of Fame ballot were recommended for enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBA membership – with Randy Johnson the only unanimous recommendation. (The BBA is an organization of more than 200 baseball bloggers.)
In the official release regarding the BBA balloting, it is noted that – given the backlog of quality players on the ballot – the BBA adopted the “binary ballot” process suggested by St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Derrick Goold. Each player on the ballot was given a “yes” or “no” vote by BBA voters and those receiving over 75 percent were then recommended for induction. (There was no ten-vote maximum as in the official BBWAA balloting.) Using this method, only 13 percent of BBA members turned in a ballot with less than ten names selected, while 40 percent turned in a ballot with 15 or more names selected. Note: BBRT is highly supportive of the adoption of binary balloting by the BBWAA.)
Within this format, the following player received the necessary support from Baseball Bloggers Alliance members:
Randy Johnson (LHP, 1988-2009) – Unanimous BBA support
The Big Unit – BBA’s unanimous HOF recommendation.
Randy Johnson notched 303 wins (166 losses) and 4,875 strikeouts (second all-time) in 4,135 innings pitched. Johnson’s 10.61 strikeouts per nine innings ranks number-one among qualifying starting pitchers. Johnson, who held hitters to a .221 average (eighth lowest all-time), was a ten-time All-Star and five-time Cy Young Award winner (second only to Roger Clemens). He led his league in strikeouts nine times, ERA four times, complete games four times, winning percentage four times and victories once. He earned four straight NL Cy Young Awards (1999-2002) and threw two no-hitters (one a perfect game.) He was also the 2001 World Series MVP – going 3-0. 1.04 in three starts (striking out 19 in 17 1/3 innings).
Johnson itched for the Montreal Expos (1988-89); Seattle Mariners (1989-98); Houston Astros (1998); Arizona Diamondbacks (1999-2004, 2007-08); New York Yankees (2005-2006); and San Francisco Giants (2009).
Pedro Martinez (RHP, 1992-2009) – 95 percent
Pedro Martnez brought an arsenal of “plus” pitches and elite control to the mound.
Martinez ran up a 219-100 record, a 2.93 ERA and 3,154 strikeouts in 18 seasons. Among qualifying starting pitchers, only Randy Johnson recorded more strikeouts per nine innings than Martinez’ 10.04. He captured three Cy Young Awards (1997, 1999, 2000) and was an eight-time All Star. He notched a league-low ERA in five seasons, and a league-high in strikeouts three times. Martinez is one of only four pitchers to log 3,000+ strikeouts with fewer than 1,000 walks. His .687 winning percentage is the third-highest all-time; second-highest in the modern era (behind Whitey Ford’s .690; 238-106).
Martinez pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-93); Montreal Expos (1994-97); Boston Red Sox (1998-2004); New York Mets (2005-08); and Philadelphia Phillies (2009).
Craig Biggio (2B/C/OF, 1988-2007) – 90 percent
Craig Biggio getting his bat on the ball for 3,000+ hits should be his ticket to the Hall of Fame.
Biggio recorded 3,060 base hits (20th all time), 1,884 runs (154h all time), hit 291 home runs and stole 414 bases. He was a seven-time All Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner. He led the NL in runs twice, doubles three times, stolen bases once and hit-by-pitch five times. His 668 doubles are the most ever by a right-handed hitter (and fifth all time). He holds the NL record for home runs to lead off a game (53) and for hit-by-pitch (285).
Biggio played his entire 18-year MLB career with the Houston Astros.
John Smoltz (RHP, 1988-2009) – 89 percent
Smoltz delivered as a starter and reliever.
Smoltz is the only MLB hurler to notch 200+ wins (213) and 150+ saves (154) in his career – and one of only two pitchers to have a 20-win season and a 50-save season. In 1996, he went 24-8 as a starter for the Braves, leading the NL in wins, winning percentage (24-6, .750), strikeouts( 276) and innings pitched (253 2/3). Five seasons later, after Tommy John surgery, Smoltz led the NL in saves with 55. Smoltz was an eight-time All Star, who won the NL Cy Young Award in 1996 and was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 2005. He led the NL in wins twice, winning percentage twice, strikeouts twice, innings pitched twice and saves once. He finished his career at 213-155, 3.33, with 154 saves and 3,084 strikeouts in 3,473 innings pitched.
Smoltz pitched for the Atlanta Braves (19988-99, 2001-08); St. Louis Cardinals (2009); and Boston Red Sox (2009).
Mike Piazza (C, 1992-2007) – 85 percent
Mike Piazza – above the HOF bubble in BBA voting.
Mike Piazza’s achieved a .308 career average, 427 home runs (a MLB-record 396 as a catcher), a Rookie of the Year Award, 12 All Star Selections and ten Silver Slugger Awards as the best hitter at his position. He collected 2,127 hits, 1,335 RBI and scored 1,048 runs. Piazza played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-98); Florida Marlins (1998); New York Mets (1998-2005); San Diego Padres (2006); and Oakland A’s 2007.
Jeff Bagwell (1B, 1991-2005) – 77 percent
Jeff Bagwell’s 15-year career MLB-career included 2,314 hits, 449 home runs, 202 stolen bases and a .297 average – along with a Rookie of the Year Award, a Most Valuable Player Award, one Gold Glove and four All Star selections. He also twice recorded seasons of 40 or more homers and 30 or more steals. Bagwell played his entire MLB career with the Houston Astros,
Tim Raines (OF, 1979-2001) – 77 percent
Tim Raines hit .294 over his 23-season MLB career, collecting 2,605 hits, 1,571 runs scored, 170 home runs, 980 RBI and 808 stolen bases (#5 all time). Raines was successful on 83.5 percent of his career steal attempts. He was a seven-time All Star, led the NL in stolen bases four consecutive years (1981-84), had a streak of six seasons with at least 70 steals, won the NL batting title in 1986 with a .334 average, led the league in runs scored twice and doubles once. Raines played for the Montreal Expos (1979-90, 2001)); Chicago White Sox (1991-95); New York Yankees (1996-98); Oakland A’s (1999); Baltimore Orioles (2001); and Florida Marlins (2002).
All seven of these players received BBRT’s HOF support – as did Lee Smith, Jeff Kent and Mike Mussina. For more details on the BBA recommended candidates and BBRT’s ballot, click here to go to my December 3, 2014 Hall of Fame Post.
The rest of the BBA voting was as follows:
Edgar Martinez 71%
Curt Schilling 68%
Mike Mussina 67%
Barry Bonds 65%
Roger Clemens 63%
Alan Trammell 53%
Jeff Kent 44%
Gary Sheffield 38%
Larry Walker 37%
Fred McGriff 33%
Mark McGwire 33%
Don Mattingly 31%
Lee Smith 31%
Sammy Sosa 23%
Carlos Delgado 19%
Nomar Garciaparra 13%
Cliff Floyd 4%
Brian Giles 4%
Rich Aurilia 3%
Darin Erstad 3%
Troy Percival 3%
Aaron Boone 1%
Jason Schmidt 1%
Jermaine Dye 0%
Tom Gordon 0%
Eddie Guardado 0%
The official website of the BBA is located at baseballbloggersalliance.wordpress.com. The BBA can be found on Twitter by the handle @baseballblogs and by the hashmark #bbba. For more information, contact Niko Goutakolis at baseballbloggersalliance@gmail.com.
