Who Would I Vote For? The 2011 Hall of Fame Ballot

First, if you want to check out the entire 2011 HOF ballot, here’s the link.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2011.shtml

Every actual Hall of Fame voter gets to vote for up to ten players on their ballot.  Here are the guys I would vote for, in no particular order... if I actually had a ballot.

Barry Larkin- He was the best shortstop in the NL in the 1990s, winning three gold gloves (’94-’96) and the 1995 MVP award.  In 1996, he became the first shortstop to join the 30/30 club (30 stolen bases and homers).  He was selected to 12 All-Star games throughout his career.

G	AB	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	SLG	OBP
2180	7937	2340	198	960	379	.295	.444	.371

Fred McGriff- A five time all-star selection, McGriff slugged 493 homers during his 19 year career.  He hit 30 or more homers for a record five different teams, the Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Devil Rays and Cubs.  He wasn’t a great defensive first baseman, but the guy hit the ball pretty damn well.

G	AB	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	SLG	OBP
2460	8757	2490	493	1550	72	.284	.509	.377

Larry Walker- Walker was a five time all-star during his 17 year career.  He won seven Gold Gloves and the 1997 NL MVP award.  In his full Major League seasons, he averaged 24 homers and 82 RBI per season.

G	AB	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	SLG	OBP
1988	6907	2160	383	1311	230	.313	.565	.400

Jeff Bagwell- Bagwell was a four time all-star selection during his 15 year career.  He also won the 1991 Rookie of the Year and in 1994, won both a Gold Glove Award and the MVP award.  In that 1994 season, which was shortened by the players’ strike, Bagwell hit 39 homers and had 116 RBIs in only 110 games.  He averaged 30 home runs and 102 RBI per season during his career.

G	AB	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	SLG	OBP
2150	7797	2314	449	1529	202	.297	.540	.408

Roberto Alomar- Alomar was probably the best second baseman of his generation.  He hit over .320 five times during his 17 year career, while also stealing more than 40 bases four times.  Even as a good offensive player, he was best known for his defense.  He won 10 Gold Glove awards and his .984 fielding percentage is the highest ever for an American League second basemen.

G	AB	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	SLG	OBP
2379	9073	2724	210	1134	474	.300	.443	.371

Bert Blyleven- He was almost elected to the HOF last year, getting 74.2% of the vote (falling 0.8% short).  He had one of the best curveballs of his era and has the most strikeouts of any pitcher not in the Hall of Fame.

Wins	Losses	W-L%	ERA	IP	SO	BB	WHIP
287	250	.534	3.31	4970	3701	1322	1.198

Lee Smith- There aren’t many closers in the Hall of Fame, but that’s because the closer is a relatively new phenomenon.  Smith is third on the all-time saves list with 478, behind only Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera (future HOFs).

Wins	Losses	W-L%	ERA	IP	SO	BB	WHIP	SV
71	92	.436	3.03	1289.1	1251	486	1.256	478

John Franco- Like Smith, Franco was a great closer.  He is fourth, right behind Smith, on the all-time saves list with 424.

Wins	Losses	W-L%	ERA	IP	SO	BB	WHIP	SV
90	87	.508	2.89	1245.2	975	495	1.333	424

Those are only eight guys I would vote for.  The others just don’t have the numbers or have been associated with steroids in some way (Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez).