2012 Hall of Fame Ballot

    In light of yesterday's steroid topic, I decided to talk about the Hall of Fame. With the Hall of Fame voting to take place in the first weeks of 2013, I wanted to share my ballot with you. Players on the ballot for the first time this year are: Curt Schilling, Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds, Craig Biggio, Sammy Sosa, Jeff Bagwell, and Roger Clemens.

Schilling won 58 games and
a World Series title with  in 4 seasons
with Arizona (2000-03)

    Given these first-time names, here is my ballot for this year and their notable career numbers:
Curt Schilling (Pitcher)- 216 wins, 3116 strikeouts, and an 11-2 postseason record
Mike Piazza (Catcher)- 427 home runs, career .308 batting average, 12-time All-Star
Craig Biggio (Second Base)- 3060 career hits, 1175 runs batted in, .281 batting average

    There are also a few other non-first-timers who I believe should make the cut:
Edgar Martinez (Designated Hitter)- 2247 hits, 309 home runs, 1261 runs batted in, .312 batting average
Tim Raines (Left Field)- 2605 hits,1571 runs, .294 batting average

    Justification time! First: the first-timers. Curt Schilling had more than 3000 strikeouts, which is a notable milestone for any pitcher. The thing that makes Schilling a sure thing though, is his postseason record. An 11-2 record and 3 shutouts when it matters most is why he gets the nod. Mike Piazza had an impressive .308 career batting average and is regarded as one of the greatest catchers of all-time. Most impressively, Piazza has the most home runs all-time by any catcher. The easiest decision for me was putting Craig Biggio on my ballot. If there is such thing as a sure-fire Hall of Fame statistic for me, it's 3000 hits in a career. Therefore, Biggio's 3060 hits leaves no doubt in my mind that he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Piazza is the all-time leader
in home runs by a catcher (427)

    The reason I have Edgar Martinez on my ballot is because of how hard it is to put up his numbers as a purely designated hitter. When Martinez broke into the league in 1987, the designated hitter was fairly new, so I consider Martinez to be the one who brought the DH into the limelight. His 309 homers and .312 average as a DH gives him the nod for me. Tim Raines has what I consider borderline Hall numbers, but I think it's Tim's time. Now, you'll notice that Jeff Bagwell wasn't among the first-timers to make it on the ballot. Much like Raines, Bagwell has classic border-line numbers. Bagwell will definitely get into the Hall, but it'll be an exercise in patience.

    Three who are not on my ballot are Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa. Even though, statistically these three rank among the greatest, it is their links to steroids that keep them off my ballot, now and forever.  Golden Globe corespondent Bob Ryan called Clemens, Sosa, and Bonds the "Toxic Trio"
Even though Clemens has more than 300 career wins, Sosa is towards the top of the all-time home run list, and Bonds is the home run king, all of those numbers can be thrown out because of their steroid use. It pains me to say that because I grew up watching and rooting for these three, but they are leading the charge to ruin the game, and that is why they will NEVER get my vote for the hall of Fame.

    Hall of Fame voting takes place in early January. Who will be next to receive the  highest honor in any sport and be enshrined into the Hall of Fame?