BFT on Possible 100% Hall Guys
If you look on the Baseball Hall of Fame's website, they will have the "Future Eligibles" posted for the next four years. One of the most concerning problems for me is that the potential Hall of Fame ballots for 2019-2022 are extremely weak as a whole. There is maybe one lock on each ballot for the future eligible players up for induction. 2021 and 2022 may only produce one player, David Ortiz, as a first ballot inductee. This may lead to an increase in votes for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemons, which would be a disgrace to the Hall of Fame, in my opinion. I can tell you that not a single one of these players deserves to be on 100% of the ballots. I have decided to compile a list, and I will give my reasons why these players do not deserve to be on 100% of the ballots.
1. Mariano Rivera (2019 Class)
No one seems to question it. Mariano Rivera appears to be the only lock for induction into the Hall of Fame next year. Hopefully, in my opinion, Edgar Martinez can pull it out in his final year on the ballot, but it is no lock. If you watched MLB Network last night waiting to hear Trevor Hoffman's name announced in the 2018 class, then you may have heard some analysts on their pre-announcement show say that Mariano Rivera deserves to be on 100% of the ballots. Mariano Rivera's career WAR was much higher than Trevor Hoffman, and his postseason statistics are incredible for any pitcher. He is still a relief pitcher, so guys like Keith Law will, probably, not vote for him because "saves are a terrible measure of success." Mariano is a first ballot guy. I firmly believe that. I also believe that because there has yet to be a player be on 100% of the ballots, there will be a constant debate on who will be that guy. It will not be Mariano.
Projection: 95%
2. Derek Jeter (2020)
Derek Jeter will go down as one of the greatest Yankees to ever play the game. He is one of the three core Yankee captains, Thurman Munson and Lou Gehrig being the other two. He won 5 World Series for the most storied franchise in MLB history. He was a 14x All-Star, and he retired with the sixth most hits in the history of the game. Jeter was unbelievable to watch during his prime. He actually compares very well to Tony Gwynn. They were both pure hitters, and they were the best in the game to do it while they were playing. Statistics to compare between Tony Gwynn and Derek Jeter: hits TG (3,141) and DJ (3,465), Doubles TG (543) and DJ (544), All-Star games TG (15) DJ (14), Batting Average TG (.338) and DJ (.310), and RBI TG (1,138) and DJ (1,311). They were also both 5x Gold Glove Award winners, and Tony Gwynn edged Derek Jeter in Silver Sluggers 7-5. Jeter did win 5 World Series. All things considered, Jeter will be up there with Ken Griffey Jr. in vote share, but he will fall just short of 100%
Projection: 99.3%
3. David Ortiz
David Ortiz will be immortalized as a DH, and he will get into the Hall of Fame on his first try. He will not be close to 100% because he was a DH.
Projection: 84%
Those are the members on the list of future eligible players. Now, I will cover one player in the MLB that is in the twilight of his career, but will be close to 100% when his name appears on the ballot.
4. Albert Pujols (~ 2025)
If there is a future player that deserves 100% in the relatively near future, it would be Albert Pujols. Even when Albert has dropped in production during his time in Anaheim, his overall numbers will have a plaque in Cooperstown waiting for him. He currently has 614 Home Runs. If you add his home run total over the final 3 years of his contract, as a projection, he would finish with 708 Home Runs. That would be the 3rd most in baseball history (No, I do not count Barry Bonds). He currently ranks 10th all time in RBIs. He has never had less than 95 RBIs in a full season. If he had the same number of RBIs this year as he did last year, 101, then he would enter the 2019 season with the 5th most RBIs in MLB history. He is currently 32 hits shy of 3000. He has made 10 All-Star Games, won 6 Silver Sluggers, 2 Gold Gloves, 2 World Series, 3 MVPs, and he has the most RBIs of any foreign born player in MLB history. Achieving all of this, while doing it clean, would make him the best candidate for 100% of any players anywhere close to being on the ballot. I do not believe the BBWAA will ever elect a player with 100%, but Albert Pujols would be the most deserving of any player in the next 10 years.
Projection: 99.7%