Outside the Box

National Baseball Hall of Fame - Sample 2001 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

First day of classes, so things are a tad hectic around here. I'll try to comment on the HOF vote when it comes out. I'd bet on Winfield and Puckett getting in, though Blyleven has gotten some pub lately. Maybe he'll get in.

Here is my vote roughly in order of worthiness.

Dave Winfield - Lots of hits, lots of home runs. Number ten all-time in total bases and 39th in base on balls is a tough combination. Still, he isn't an "elite" HOFer. He has a measly four points of black ink and was never an MVP.

Bert Blyleven - Rob Neyer and the Baseball Crank have made the case for Blyleven pretty well. He also is the top remaining pitcher in the HOF standards list.

Kirby Puckett - perhaps he's more worthy than Blyleven, I'm not sure. He gets credit for the injury in my book. His 1995 was outstanding. He is also the ranking eligible batter on the HOF monitor list

Gary Carter - I played catcher in high school, so I feel his pain. Carter and Fisk are a matched set as far as I'm concerned.

Rich Gossage - As a Sox fan, I really hated this guy. I was so mad at him because it was impossible for them to score off him. He has 22 years and 15 of them were above average and asfter his second season none were bad. His two most similars are Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers, the only two relievers in the Hall of Fame.

I really wanted to vote for Jim Rice and Luis Tiant, but I just couldn't do it.