If I Had a Baseball Hall of Fame Vote...

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will announce it's class of 2013 on Wednesday. According to the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) rules, a writer can vote up to 10 candidates. If I had a vote, here would be my choices for the Hall of Fame (HOF) class of 2013.

Jack Morris This is Morris's 14th time on the HOF ballot. He had the most wins of the 1980s and was a big game pitcher. He was part of three World Championship teams (Detroit, Minnesota, Toronto). In the World Series he was 4-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 51.2 INN. He also pitched a 10 inning masterpiece in Game 7 of the 1991 series for Minnesota in their 1-0 win over Atlanta. In his career he compiled a 254-186 record with a 3.90 ERA and 175 complete games. One of the biggest criticisms of Morris has been his high ERA. To me, it doesn't matter. Give me a big game and Morris would be one of my top choices.

Tim Raines Raines was one of the top outfielders in the 1980s and played 23 years in the majors. He compiled 2605 hits, a .294 average and stole 808 bases. He was also a seven time all-star, winning the game's MVP in 1987 and won a batting title in 1986. He was one of the game's top base stealers and I think he deserves induction.

Alan Trammell Trammell was one of the many great shortstops of the 1980s. Often overshadowed by flashier players like Ozzie Smith, Barry Larkin, and Cal Ripken, Jr, Trammell was steady. He played 20 years for the Detroit Tigers. He compiled 2365 hits and a .285 average. He was a six time All-Star, four time Gold Glover, three time Silver Slugger award winner, and 1984 World Series MVP. His numbers compare to Larkin, and for all you SABR metrics geeks, his WAR of 67.1 is the same as Larkin's who was inducted into the HOF last year. I think it's time he gets in, although he probably won't. Hopefully, if the BBWAA doesn't induct him, the Veteran's Committee will induct him and his double play partner, Lou Whitaker, who fell of the ballot years ago...

Lee Smith Smith spent 18 years in the big leagues with eight different teams. He saved 478 games (3rd all-time) with a 3.03 ERA. Bruce Sutter, who was elected in 2006, had 300 saves. Smith was a seven time All-Star and won the Rolaids Relief man award three times. He lead the league in saves four times. There are not too many relievers in the HOF, but if Sutter got in, Smith should too.

Now for the Steroid Era players. This is a hot debate among the BBWAA. Some will vote for those players, many others refuse. It's hard to decide what the right thing to do is since many of them never officially tested positive, but were strongly suspected of using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). I've thought about this for a long time, since this was the era that I became a huge baseball fan. So I have seen these players play their entire careers. I traveled to Milwaukee in 1998 just to watch Mark McGwire play two games in hopes seeing a bit of history (he did hit homerun #65 and would have had #66 but it was taken away by umpires who thought it hit off the top of the wall. The ball actually hit a fan in the chest and bounced back in play). So this is a tough one, but if I did have a vote, I would vote in all steroid players that have HOF numbers. The reason being, there was no real steroid policy back then. Many players were using. Maybe it's not a great reason, but until I see legitimate positive tests (and not just strong evidence or speculation), I would vote the players below in. Rafael Palmeiro did test positive in 2005 and I would not vote for him because of it. By the way, his suspension? Ten games...

Barry Bonds Bonds, who along with Roger Clemens, was the face of the Steroid Era. His numbers though, with or without enhancement, are remarkable. Bonds is the all-time career Homerun leader (762). He had a .298 average, 2935 hits, 601 doubles, 1996 RBI, 2558 BB (best all-time), and 514 stolen bases. He was a seven time Most Valuable Player, 14-time All-Star, eight time Gold Glover, 12-time Silver Slugger, and set the single season Homerun record with 73, in 2001. Enhanced numbers? More than likely, but he wasn't the only one in his era.

Roger Clemens Unlike with hitters, it's hard to determine what steroids can do for a pitcher. Does it make them throw harder or does it help with recovery? I'm not sure, but the horrible testimony (which he initiated) in front of Congress, has definitely increased everyone's suspicion to his PED use. Nevertheless, his career numbers were outstanding. 354-184 record, 3.12 ERA, 4672 strikeouts, 4916.2 IP, and 118 CG. He was a seven time Cy Young Award winner, won the MVP in 1986, and an 11-time All-Star. One of the best pitchers in the history of the game.

Sammy Sosa Sosa is another player who has a high probability of PED use. Along with Mark McGwire, they were part of the greatest Homerun race since 1961. Their chase of Roger Maris's single season record of 61 was truly an event to watch every night. He played 18 years and finished with a .273 average, with 609 HRs, 1667 RBI, and 2408 hits. He hit over 60 HRs in a season three times (only player to do it). He won the NL MVP in 1998, was a seven time All-Star, and a six time Silver Slugger winner. Again, probably enhanced numbers, but a part of the era.

Jeff Bagwell While under suspicion for PED use, there hasn't been a lot of talk about it, just asssumptions. Definitely less talk about use than Bonds, Clemens, and Sosa. Bagwell had a great 15 year career, all with the Houston Astros. He finished with a .297 average with 449 HRs, 1529 RBI and 2314 hits. He also walked 1401 times. He won the NL MVP in 1994, was NL Rookie of the Year in 1991, Gold Glove winner in 1994, Silver Slugger winner three times, and a four time All-Star. Unlike the previous three mentioned, I think he has a pretty good chance of being elected by the BBWAA.

Craig Biggio Biggio, Bagwell's teammate with Houston, has had very little PED controversy. Over a 20 year career, all with the Astros, he had a .281 average, 291 HRs, 1175 RBI, 414 SB, and 3060 hits. He started out as a Catcher, but spent the majority of his career as one of the best Second Basemen of his generation. He was a four time Gold Glove winner, five time Silver Slugger (one at Catcher and the rest at Second), and a seven time All-Star. According to Baseball Reference, his stats compare to HOFs, Robin Yount, Joe Morgan, Paul Molitor, Roberto Alomar, Cal Ripken, Jr, Brooks Robinson, George Brett, and future HOFer Derek Jeter. I believe Biggio will be an easier choice for the BBWAA than the others in the era. Not sure if he will make it in on the first ballot, but he will get in within the next couple of years for sure.

Mike Piazza Piazza is another one who some people think used PEDs. While it's not talked about nearly as much as Bonds, Clemens, and Sosa, there still is some doubt whether or not he put up untainted numbers. As it stands, he is arguably the best hitting Catcher of all-time. In 16 seasons, he finished with a .308 average, 427 HRs, 1335 RBI, and 2127 hits. He was 1993 NL Rookie of the Year and was selected to an All-Star team 12 times (won game MVP in 1996). He also won a Silver Slugger ten times. I think Piazza will be voted into the hall, just not sure it will be this year, his first year on the ballot.

There are my ten choices for the Hall of Fame. We will see who actually will be inducted into the 2013 class on Wednesday. Let the debate begin...