I predict the 2013 class of the MLB Hall of Fame will be an interesting one, but who doesn't? We have the steroid-tarnished Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa all making their first appearances while veterans like Jeff Bagwell, Edgar Martinez, and the always notable Jack Morris await their shots. There is also a former back-to-back MVP in Dale Murphy entering his last year of eligibility, and ballot dwellers like Don Mattingly, Alan Trammell, and Lee Smith who may find themselves in Mr Murphy's shoes one day. Then there are the "untarnished" newbies that include the likes of Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, and good luck charm, Jeff Conine, who, to his novice credit, has a couple of World Series rings unlike others on this list. Sadly, I predict just two of these players to finally get their call.
Before I present my predicted list of who will get the most votes, first I would like to write out what my vote would be, if I got one, and why:
1. Craig Biggio-3000+ hits without use of steroids speaks for itself
2. Jack Morris-Its about time to put the best pitcher of the 1980's into the hall of fame, isn't it?
3. Edgar Martinez-The guy's so popular, he has an award named after him.
4. Jeff Bagwell-Look, he never used steroids, lets stop trying to pretend he did.
5. Mark Mcgwire-Yes he roided, but he also came clean and perhaps has suffered enough, what do you say?
6. David Wells-No, I don't expect Wells to ever get into the hall of fame but I would feel terrible if my vote prevented him from at least remaining on the ballot for another year.
Now to how I think the ballot will actually go. As I've said already, I predict two hall of famers from the 2013 crop, keep in mind hall of fame, as marked with an asterisk(*) is 75% of the vote or higher. On the other end of the ballot are those poor souls who get under 5% and are therefore not welcome back for next year, as marked with a dash(-). So enjoy:
*Craig Biggio 90.4%
*Jack Morris 78.6%
Jeff Bagwell 60.1%
Edgar Martinez 56.2%
Alan Trammell 55.5%
Mike Piazza 53.0%
Lee Smith 51.4%
Tim Raines 50.6%
Fred McGriff 40.8%
Curt Schilling 29.2%
Mark Mcgwire 28.4%
Larry Walker 25.0%
Don Mattingly 21.4%
Kenny Lofton 20.7%
Dale Murphy 19.9%
David Wells 15.6%
Barry Bonds 13.1%
Roger Clemens 12.1%
Rafael Palmeiro 11.7%
Bernie Williams 6.0%
Julio Franco 5.2%
-Sammy Sosa 4.5%
-Shawn Green 4.1%
-Steve Finley 3.8%
-Ryan Klesko 1%
-Mike Stanton .7%
-Reggie Sanders .3%
-Sandy Alomar Jr .1%
-Jeff Cirillo .1%
-Jose Mesa .1%
-Jeff Conine .1%
-Roberto Hernandez 0%
-Aaron Sele 0%
-Royce Clayton 0%
-Todd Walker 0%
-Rondell White 0%
-Woody Williams 0%
Note a few bold predictions:
-Jeff Bagwell, with over 60%, has now solidified a spot in the hall in his near future as everyone who has ever gotten over 60% has eventually been elected into the hall of fame.
-Alan Trammell has a considerable rise in votes, and I think the rise of attention given to him in recent years should amount to this.
-No hall of fame for Barry Bonds, Mark Mcgwire, Roger Clemens, or Rafael Palmeiro, specifically the newbies, Bonds and Clemens, get to sit right beside Palmeiro at the level of just enough to come back.
-Sammy Sosa, on the other hand, is going to be the scapegoat for all steroids related stories and, just like Jose Canseco a few years back, shouldn't even get enough to come back.
-And Jack Morris and Craig Biggio are the only inductees.
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