# 2014 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 26, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859 "2013-11-26T21:04:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/161 "2013-12-08T16:02:16Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Blank Slate: Gonzalez’s 2001 HR total doesn’t strike you as out of place? My only point there was that Gonzalez had a (barely) debatable case for discussion. Greg Gagne doesn’t even deserve a second thought. I’m done trying to sort out the whole steroids mess. It’s ridiculous to exclude Bonds and Clemens…how do I know that Biggio and Bagwell and Piazza didn’t juice? How do I know that the Big Hurt isn’t living a Big Lie? Why are we going to exclude players that supposedly and allegedly did something that wasn’t even banned under MLB rules, at the time? And even if the writers take this “moral” stand, you know the veterans committee will induct truly great players, like Bonds and Clemens. My only hope for the “steroid ere” is that the standards for the Hall of Fame are raised higher than other eras. I saw Palmiero play and never thought of him as great. Same for McGwire and Sosa. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/162 "2013-12-10T21:29:21Z")
Well this is certainly [a fun little interactive chart](http://cscheid.net/static/mlb-hall-of-fame-voting/#state=state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=-1&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=2&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=14&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=12&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=4&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=11&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=26)… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/163 "2013-12-10T21:33:19Z")
Btw, is it kosher if I write in non-players on my ballot? For example, let’s say I wanted [Marvin Miller](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Miller) to be elected… could I start a write-in campaign? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/164 "2013-12-10T22:02:42Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Btw, is it kosher if I write in non-players on my ballot? For example, let’s say I wanted [Marvin Miller](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Miller) to be elected… could I start a write-in campaign? No, there’ll likely be a chance for him to enter the HOF via the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, or an executive membership, or some other special recognition. It’s hard to argue his not having earned it. I suspect Dr. James Andrews to get similar recognition at some point. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/165 "2013-12-10T22:06:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Btw, is it kosher if I write in non-players on my ballot? For example, let’s say I wanted [Marvin Miller](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Miller) to be elected… could I start a write-in campaign? No. The ballot is only open to players with at least 10 years of major league play, and at least 5 years retired. Managers, owners, journalists (and maybe union reps?) get in by other means. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/166 "2013-12-10T22:13:22Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > My only point there was that Gonzalez had a (barely) debatable case for discussion. Greg Gagne doesn’t even deserve a second thought. But \*Eric \*Gagne, the guy on the ballot, was certainly dominant at his position for a couple of years. That isn’t enough - you need to have been very good for a long time too - but it’s something. Gonzalez is one of those guys who changed teams often enough to gain an unfair image as a journeyman. But he was very good for a long time, and deserves consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/167 "2013-12-10T22:17:31Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Gonzalez is one of those guys who changed teams often enough to gain an unfair image as a journeyman. But he was very good for a long time, and deserves consideration. I don’t think it’s a journeyman label that’s hurting him (I only associate him with his lengthy stints in Houston and Arizona), but rather his merely-above-average-for-a-long-time career. He’s the type of guy I love having on a team - guys with more walks than whiffs are far too rare these days. But other than that monster season in 2001, what do are you seeing that warrants inclusion? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/168 "2013-12-10T23:57:43Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Well this is certainly [a fun little interactive chart](http://cscheid.net/static/mlb-hall-of-fame-voting/#state=state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=-1&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=2&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=14&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=12&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=4&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=11&state%5Bshown_histograms%5D%5B%5D=26)… That chart is great! Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/169 "2013-12-26T15:37:47Z")
Here’s a Google doc someone’s put together that is tracking [all published HOF votes](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aqc4QTMoPrdtdDQxaDYzd1lLOGpOdUdrcnNNNWNXa2c&usp=drive_web&authkey=CPyuwqIJ&authkey=CPyuwqIJ#gid=7). As of right now, the following are getting in: Biggio (75%) Glavine (100%) Maddux (100%) Morris (79.2%) Piazza (75%) Thomas (83%) Warning: Small sample size! (23 voters in total) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/170 "2013-12-26T16:42:04Z")
That bodes better for Thomas’s chances than I expected. I thought he’d be lumped in with the juicers and forgotten for the dominating hitter he was. Thomas was BORN juiced. He was always huge. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/171 "2013-12-26T19:11:19Z")
Yeah, that was good to see. On the other hand, Raines dropped to 50%, which I don’t like. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/172 "2013-12-26T21:30:50Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > On the other hand, Raines dropped to 50%, which I don’t like. Yeah, not looking good so far. I thought it might just be luck of the draw, getting a larger share of non-Raines voters in the early returns, but by my count, of the 12 voters listed who didn’t vote for Raines this year, 4 of them **did** vote for him last year. So, looks like he’ll have a lower vote total this year… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/173 "2013-12-26T21:33:22Z")
[Joe Posnanski’s thoughts on the Hall and the steroid era.](http://joeposnanski.com/joeblogs/time-for-a-hall-of-fame-stand/) There’s a lot to debate but I think his general outlook makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/174 "2013-12-26T22:51:40Z")
I would be surprised if Morris stays there with a bigger sample, but you never know. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/175 "2013-12-27T04:31:12Z")
The Baseball Think Factory [2014 HOF Ballot Collecting Gizmo!](http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/newsstand/discussion/the_2013_hof_ballot_collecting_gizmo) keeps track of voting. Currently (42 ballots): 100 - Maddux 100 - Glavine 83.3 - F. Thomas 81.0 - Biggio ——————————— 69.0 - J. Morris 69.0 - Piazza 64.3 - Bagwell 47.6 - Raines 45.2 - Bonds 45.2 - Clemens 40.5 - Schilling 33.3 - Mussina 23.8 - McGriff 23.8- L. Smith 19.0 - Trammell 16.7 - Kent 11.9 - E. Martinez 9.5 - R. Palmeiro 9.5 - L. Walker 7.1 - McGwire ——————————— 2.4 - Mattingly 2.4 - Sosa 2.4 - P. Rose (Write-In) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/176 "2013-12-27T13:39:20Z")
God, the Pete Rose thing is tiresome. He’s not eligible, give up. Can we get rid of the BBWAA’s role in this already? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/177 "2013-12-27T23:26:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > God, the Pete Rose thing is tiresome. He’s not eligible, give up. > > Can we get rid of the BBWAA’s role in this already? I think, as Bill James suggested, that the pool of voters for the Baseball HOF should be expanded beyond the BBWAA. For one thing, by mostly limiting the selection process to print journalists, the HOF is inadvertantly displaying a bias against “new” media and barring imput from many more-than-well qualified and knowledgeable people who simply made the unwise decision to work in a type of media that came into being after 1920. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/178 "2013-12-28T03:33:02Z")
Just curious, on what medium do you usually read their stuff? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/179 "2013-12-28T06:05:24Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Just curious, on what medium do you usually read their stuff? Print ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859/180 "2013-12-29T06:33:30Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I think, as Bill James suggested, that the pool of voters for the Baseball HOF should be expanded beyond the BBWAA. For one thing, by mostly limiting the selection process to print journalists, the HOF is inadvertantly displaying a bias against “new” media and barring imput from many more-than-well qualified and knowledgeable people who simply made the unwise decision to work in a type of media that came into being after 1920. Yes. How does Bill James himself not have a vote? Or someone like Vin Scully? Or Voros McCracken? Or some of those SABR historians? You’ll find very few, if any, BBWAA members more qualified to have a Hall of Fame opinion than these people. Why do the writers have a stranglehold on this door to the Hall? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-mlb-hall-of-fame-ballot/674859.md?page=10)