Baseball Hall of Fame set to Announce New Class Today

The National Baseball Hall of Fame will announce it's class of 2011 later on Wednesday. Of the 33 players on the ballot this year, many are deserving, however, snce 2000, there have been no more than two players inducted in one year as voted by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). With so many different writers voting (539 last year), it makes it extremely hard to get in because each one of them has their own personal criteria on what a Hall of Famer is. In the steroid era of the late 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s, some writers refuse to vote for anyone, whether they have been accused of taking steroids or for just playing in the era. I don't think you can punish every single player in the steroid era. You can't say everyone is guilty of something. With that being said, here is my list of who should be in the Hall of Fame. Not everyone will get in today. I will put an HOF next to the names of the players who I think will get in today. Here are the top 5 players who I think should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame:


Bert Blyleven, HOF

Blyleven pitched 22 years (1970-1992) with a 287-250 record, struck out 3701 (5th all-time) and posted a 3.31 ERA. He had 242 complete games and 60 shutouts (9th all-time). He was 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA in 8 postseason games. He was a part of two World Championship teams ('79 Pirates, '87 Twins) and a two time All-Star.






Roberto Alomar, HOF

Alomar played 17 seasons (1988-2004) for seven different teams. He was a 12-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and 5-time Silver Slugger winner. He was the best all around second baseman in his era. He finished his career with a .300 average, 2724 hits, 474 stolen bases. He appeared in 58 postseason games, and was a part of two World Championship teams ('92 & '93 Blue Jays).


Jack Morris

Jack Morris was the winningest pitching of the 1980s. He was a fierce competitor who did nothing but win. He played 18 seasons (1977-1994) for four different teams, including the Detroit Tigers. He was a huge part of three World Championship teams ('84 Tigers, '91 Twins, '92 Blue Jays) and was also on the '93 Blue Jays team, but didn't pitch in the postseason. He was 254-186, (183 wins in the 80s) with a 3.90 ERA. He won 20 games three times and pitched a no-hitter in 1984. In 13 postseason games, he compiled a 7-4 record with a 3.80 ERA. Numbers aren't what really defined Morris, however. It was his intense competitiveness and will to win is what defined him. He arguably pitched the greatest game in World Series history in 1991. In Game 7, he pitched 10 innings of shutout baseball as his Twins won the World Series on a walk-off single by pinch hitter Gene Larkin. He definitely is a HOFer and if he doesn't get in at some point, it will be a crime.

Tim Raines

Tim Raines is a guy who, if you look at his numbers, may get overlooked as a HOF. He played in the era of great outfielders and may get lost in the shuffle. He played 23 seasons (1979-2002) for six different teams, having his best years as a Montreal Expo. He played in the same outfield as Andre Dawson and along with HOF Ricky Henderson, the most prolific base stealer of the 80s. He stole 808 bases over his career (5th all-time) including 90 in 1983. He stole over 70 bases six times. He had a career .294 average with 2605 hits along with being a seven time All-Star. He is a definitely a guy who should get into the HOF in the next couple of years.




Lee Smith

Lee Smith had an 18 year career (1980-1997) with eight different teams. It may seem like a journeyman type career, but when you needed a save, Smith was your man. He saved 30 or more games 10 times, with 47 being his career high. He was a seven time All-Star and his 478 career saves was the most by anyone when he retired in 1997. It has since been eclipsed by Trevor Hoffman (601) & Mariano Rivera (559).

Other players that also should be in the Hall of Fame: Harold Baines (5th time on Ballot), Barry Larkin (2nd), Edgar Martinez (2nd), Alan Trammell (10th), Dave Parker (15th), Dale Murphy (13th). Mark McGwire (5th) and Rafael Palmeiro (1st) are two players with Hall of Fame numbers but one admitted to steroid use (McGwire) and the other failed a test (Palmeiro). Jeff Bagwell (1st) never failed a drug test and was not mentioned in the infamous Mitchell Report, however, there have always been whispers about him using steroids. He was one of the best players of the 1990s, but alleged steroid use will hurt his HOF cause, as it has many other players of that era.

While I think only Blyleven and Alomar will be elected today, many others are worthy candidates. Let's hope eventually everyone I've listed gets in at some point. Here is a list of the remaining players who I haven't mentioned who's name also appears on this year's ballot:

Fred McGriff (2nd Ballot)
Don Mattingly (11th)
Larry Walker (1st)
John Franco (1st)
Juan Gonzalez (1st)
Benito Santiago (1st)
Kevin Brown (1st)
John Olerud (1st)
Brett Boone (1st)
Marquis Grissom (1st)
Carlos Baerga (1st)
Al Leiter (1st)
Tino Martinez (1st)
B.J. Surhoff (1st)
Charles Johnson (1st)
Raul Mondesi (1st)
Bobby Higginson (1st)
Kirk Rueter (1st)
Lenny Harris (1st)