Living Members of the Baseball Hall of Fame as of January 24, 2017

With the new elections, and the deaths of some, it is time to update this list.

A player is counted as a Hall-of-Famer with the team if he played at least 4 seasons with them. Teams are ranked in order of most HOFers.

1. St. Louis Cardinals, 9: Red Schoendienst (elected as player, also managed them to a title), Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda, Steve Carlton (7 seasons), Bruce Sutter, Ozzie Smith, Whitey Herzog (manager-executive), Tony LaRussa (manager). Joe Garagiola last year.

2. Baltimore Orioles, 8: Brooks Robinson, Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Roberto Alomar, Jon Miller (broadcaster).

3. Cincinnati Reds, 8: Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Tom Seaver (6 seasons with Reds), Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr., Marty Brennaman (broadcaster).

4. New York Yankees, 8: Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Rich "Goose" Gossage, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Joe Torre (manager) and Tony Kubek (broadcaster). Again, Garagiola died last year.

5. Atlanta Braves, 8: Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Bobby Cox (manager), Joe Torre (managed them in between Cox's 2 tenures there, also a player), John Schuerholz (executive).

6. Boston Red Sox, 7: Bobby Doerr, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Dennis Eckersley, Wade Boggs, Pedro Martinez.

7. Chicago Cubs, 6: Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins, Bruce Sutter, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux.

8. New York Mets, 6: Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Tom Glavine (5 seasons), Pedro Martinez (4 seasons), Joe Torre (manager), Tim McCarver (broadcaster).

9. San Francisco Giants, 6: Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Jon Miller (broadcaster).

10. Chicago White Sox, 6: Luis Aparicio, Goose Gossage (5 years with them), Carlton Fisk, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines, Tony LaRussa (manager).

11. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6: Sandy Koufax, Don Sutton, Mike Piazza, Tommy Lasorda (manager), Vin Scully (broadcaster), Jamie Jarrin (broadcaster).

12. Oakland Athletics, 5: Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, Tony LaRussa (manager).

13. Texas Rangers, 5: Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan, Ivan Rodriguez, Eric Nadel (broadcaster).

14. San Diego Padres, 5: Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

15. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 5: Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Bert Blyleven, Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

16. Milwaukee Brewers, 5: Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers, Bud Selig (owner), Bob Uecker (broadcaster).

17. Houston Astros, 4: Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell.

18. Philadelphia Phillies, 4: Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Pat Gillick (executive).

Montreal Expos, 4: Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Pedro Martinez, Dave Van Horne (broadcaster).

19. Kansas City Royals, 4: George Brett, Whitey Herzog (manager), John Schuerholz (executive), Denny Matthews (broadcaster).

20. Detroit Tigers, 3: Al Kaline, Jim Bunning, Ivan Rodriguez.

21. Seattle Mariners, 3: Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., Pat Gillick (executive).

22. Toronto Blue Jays, 3: Roberto Alomar, Pat Gillick (executive), Tony Kubek (broadcaster).

Milwaukee Braves, 2: Hank Aaron, Red Schoendienst.

23. Minnesota Twins, 2: Rod Carew, Bert Blyleven.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates, 2: Bill Mazeroski, Bert Blyleven.

25. Miami Marlins, 2: Felo Ramirez and Dave Van Horne (both broadcasters).

26. Cleveland Indians, 1: Gaylord Perry. 116 seasons, 1 living HOFer. Jim Thome will be eligible next year.

New York Giants, 1: Willie Mays.

Brooklyn Dodgers, 1: Vin Scully (broadcaster).

Washington Senators, 1: Bob Wolff (broadcaster). 

27. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1: Randy Johnson.

28. Washington Nationals, 1: Frank Robinson (manager).

29. Tampa Bay Rays, none.

30. Colorado Rockies, none.

Baseball Hall-of-Famers By Team, 2017 Edition

With the announcement of the elections of Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Ivan Rodriguez (left to right in the above photo), John Schuerholz, Bud Selig, and Ford Frick Award winner Bill King, it is time to update this list.

A player is counted as a Hall-of-Famer with the team if he played at least 4 seasons with them. However, there will be the occasional exception. Teams are ranked in order of most HOFers.

If there is a tie, it will be broken by which team has more players, as opposed to those who were elected in other categories. If there is still a tie, then I go to which has more non-broadcasters. If it's still a tie, which has more players whose contributions were mostly with that club. If it's still a tie, which team has played fewer seasons will be ranked ahead -- since, for example, 5 HOFers is more impressive for a team that's been around since 1977 than it would be for one that's been around since 1961.

Teams that no longer exist in that form will be listed in italics and in the position where they would be ranked if they still did.

Players are listed in chronological order of when they arrived at the club, then managers, then broadcasters.

1. New York Yankees, 39: It almost works out to 1 for every Pennant the team has won:

Clark Griffith (the team's first manager, elected as a pitcher and he was still a solid pitcher while he was their manager), Willie Keeler, Jack Chesbro, Frank "Home Run" Baker, Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, Bill Dickey, Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra, Johnny Mize, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Enos Slaughter, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Rich "Goose" Gossage, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs.

Also, managers Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel and Joe Torre; owner Jacob Ruppert; executives Ed Barrow and George Weiss; broadcasters Mel Allen, Red Barber, Joe Garagiola, Jerry Coleman (played for the Yankees but elected as a broadcaster, first for the Yankees, then for the Padres) and Tony Kubek (played for the Yankees but elected as a broadcaster).

Bucky Harris managed the Yankees to the 1947 World Championship, but was only their manager for 2 seasons (1947 & '48), so I'm not counting him with the Yankees. In this case, according to the rule I set, I have to count Rickey Henderson as a Yankee. If Lou Piniella is ever elected as a manager, I wouldn't be able to count him as a Yankee HOFer, since he wouldn't be elected as a player and only managed them for 3 seasons.

Rizzuto was also a longtime broadcaster. Lee MacPhail was elected for what he did as American League President, not as Yankee general manager. Bernie Williams and Paul O'Neill are now eligible, and Don Mattingly will, in a few years, become eligible once again, through the Veterans' Committee -- but in all 3 cases, let's not kid ourselves. And then there's Roger Clemens: Even if he does get in, would you want to count him as a Yankee? George Steinbrenner, now being dead, is now eligible through the Veterans' Committee.

Tim Raines was a Yankee for only 3 years, although 2 of them were title seasons. Ivan Rodriguez was a Yankee for about 3 minutes. So neither of them can be included here.

2. St. Louis Cardinals, 30: Charlie Comiskey (played for them before managing and owning teams elsewhere), Jake Beckley, Roger Bresnahan, Rogers Hornsby (won a World Series as their player-manager), Jesse Haines, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Jim Bottomley, Charles "Chick" Hafey, Burleigh Grimes, Frankie Frisch (elected as a player, won a World Series as their player-manager), Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick, Johnny Mize, Enos Slaughter, Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst (elected as player, also managed them to a title), Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda, Steve Carlton (7 seasons), Bruce Sutter, Ozzie Smith.

Also, Miller Huggins (manager, also played several years for the Cards), Billy Southworth (manager, also played for them), Whitey Herzog (manager-executive), Tony LaRussa (manager), Branch Rickey (executive), Harry Caray (broadcaster), Jack Buck (broadcaster), Joe Garagiola (broadcaster).

Jesse Burkett won a batting title with the Cards, but only played 3 seasons with them, so he just misses qualifying. On the other hand, Cepeda didn't even play 3 full seasons with the Cards, but his tenure included the 1967 title and the 1968 Pennant, and he, as much as Gibson, was a symbol of that team, and he may be better remembered as a Cardinal than as a Giants, so I'm bending the rule for him. Leo Durocher was a good player for the Cards, but was elected as a manager and never managed them, so he doesn't qualify here.

Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds did not qualify on enough ballots, and won't be eligible again until they qualify under the Veterans Committee. Surprisingly, longtime owner Gussie Busch has never been elected.

New York Giants, 26: Roger Connor, Buck Ewing, Tim Keefe, Mickey Welch, John Montgomery Ward, Roger Bresnahan, Christy Mathewson, Joe McGinnity, George Davis, Richard "Rube" Marquard, Dave Bancroft, Ross Youngs, Frankie Frisch, George "Highpockets" Kelly, Fred Lindstrom, Travis Jackson, Bill Terry, Mel Ott, Carl Hubbell, Johnny Mize, Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, Hoyt Wilhelm.

Also, John McGraw (manager, also played for them), Leo Durocher (manager), Russ Hodges (broadcaster).

Casey Stengel played for the Giants, but was elected as a manager, so I can't count him as a Giant HOFer.  

Counting all figures who played or managed at least one game for the Giants, in New York and San Francisco, they have 76, more than any other team; however, many of those were with the club only briefly. But even by my definitions, they are ahead of the arch-rival Dodgers.

3. Chicago Cubs, 27: Adrian "Cap" Anson, Mike "King" Kelly, Clark Griffith (elected as a pitcher for them, later a manager and owner elsewhere), Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance (elected as a player but should have been elected as a manager instead), Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Hazen "Kiki" Cuyler, Lewis "Hack" Wilson, Charles "Gabby" Hartnett (also managed them to a Pennant), Rogers Hornsby, Billy Herman, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ferguson Jenkins, Bruce Sutter, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux (spent enough time with them).

Also, Al Spalding (elected as an executive but was also a great pitcher), Frank Selee (manager), Joe McCarthy (manager, managed them to a Pennant before going to the Yankees), Leo Durocher (manager), Jack Brickhouse (broadcaster), Harry Caray (broadcaster).

Sammy Sosa is eligible, but he's not getting in. Lee Smith is eligible, but now that he's no longer the all-time saves leader, the biggest reason for electing him is gone. If Lou Piniella is elected as a manager, I'll have to count him as a Cub HOFer, since he managed them for 4 seasons.

Lou Boudreau was a beloved broadcaster for the Cubs after his playing and managing career, but never played or managed for them, and so I can't count him as a Cub HOFer. Santo was also a longtime broadcaster. Surprisingly, longtime owner Phillip K. Wrigley is not in.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates, 23: James "Pud" Galvin, Vic Willis, John "Honus" Wagner, Fred Clarke (elected as a player, also won Pennants as their manager), Jack Chesbro, Jake Beckley, Max Carey, Hazen "Kiki" Cuyler, Waite Hoyt (5 seasons with them), Harold "Pie" Traynor (also managed them), Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner ("Big Poison" and "Little Poison," though Lloyd was actually taller), Joseph "Arky" Vaughan, Al Lopez (elected as a manager but was an All-Star catcher for the Pirates), Ralph Kiner, Bill Mazeroski, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Bert Blyleven.

Also, Bill McKechnie (manager), Barney Dreyfuss (owner), Branch Rickey (executive), Bob Prince (broadcaster).

Blyleven was only a Pirate for 3 seasons, but I'm bending the rule because he was a key cog on their last World Championship team in 1979. Barry Bonds is eligible, but while the stance against steroid cheats is softening, he still, for the moment, falls under the category of, "Who's kidding who?"

Boston Braves, 22: Harry Wright (player and manager), George Wright, Al Spalding, Jim "Orator" O'Rourke, James "Deacon" White, Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourne, Mike "King" Kelly, John Clarkson, Charles "Kid" Nichols, Cy Young, Hugh Duffy, Tommy McCarthy (he and Duffy were known as "the Heavenly Twins"), Billy Hamilton, Vic Willis, Jimmy Collins, Johnny Evers, Walter "Rabbit" Maranville, Dave Bancroft.

Also, Frank Selee (manager), Bill McKechnie (manager, though with no success with the Braves), Casey Stengel (ditto, also played for Braves), Billy Southworth (manager).

5. Boston Red Sox, 22: Jimmy Collins (elected as a player but also managed them to the first World Series title in 1903), Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper, Babe Ruth (6 seasons with Sox before going to Yanks), Herb Pennock (7 seasons before Yanks), Red Ruffing (also 7 seasons before Yanks), Joe Cronin (elected as a player, but also managed them to the 1946 Pennant, though unlike Collins had already retired as a player; was also longtime AL President), Rick Ferrell, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Dennis Eckersley, Wade Boggs, Pedro Martinez.

Also, Dick Williams (manager, no relation to Ted), Tom Yawkey (owner), Curt Gowdy (broadcaster).

I am bending the rule slightly for Dick Williams, who only managed 3 seasons for the Red Sox, but 1 of them, 1967, was the most important season in the club's modern history. Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling are eligible, although I don't know if they will ever get in, despite being members of the 3,000 Strikeout Club, and Clemens is also a member of the 300 Win Club.

At age 98 and having debuted in the major leagues in 1937, Doerr is now the oldest and earliest living member of the Hall of Fame, and even the oldest and earliest living former MLB player. Luis Aparicio played 3 seasons for the Red Sox, so by my rule he is not eligible to be counted with them. Eckersley, however, played 7 seasons with them, so I have to count him with them, and with their living HOFers for as long as he lives.

It was long suspected that owner Jean Yawkey would become the first woman elected to the Hall of Fame, but Effa Manley, who owned the Negro Leagues' Newark Eagles, is in, while Mrs. Yawkey is still out.

6. Chicago White Sox, 22: Ed Walsh, George Davis, Eddie Collins, Ray Schalk, Red Faber, Ted Lyons, Luke Appling, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio, Early Wynn, Hoyt Wilhelm, Goose Gossage (5 years with them), Carlton Fisk, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines, Al Lopez (manager), Tony LaRussa (manager), Charlie Comiskey (owner), Bill Veeck (owner), Jack Brickhouse (broadcaster), Bob Elson (broadcaster), Harry Caray (broadcaster).

Although Clark Griffith pitched for them in their 1st 2 seasons and won the 1st American League Pennant as their manager, those 2 seasons are not enough to qualify with the White Sox. Although Tom Seaver notched his 300th victory with the Pale Hose, he pitched for them in just 3 seasons, and can't be counted as one of their HOFers.

Brooklyn Dodgers, 21: Willie Keeler, Joe Kelley, Richard "Rube" Marquard, Zack Wheat, Burleigh Grimes, Charles "Dazzy" Vance, Joseph "Arky" Vaughan, Billy Herman, Joe Medwick, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Ned Hanlon (manager), Wilbert Robinson (manager), Leo Durocher (elected as a manager but was also a good player), Walter Alston (manager), Branch Rickey (owner), Walter O'Malley (owner), Red Barber (broadcaster), Vin Scully (broadcaster).

Casey Stengel played 6 seasons for the Dodgers, and was good, but not Hall of Fame good.  He managed 3 seasons for them; in spite of their poor performance under him, had he managed them for 1 more season, he would still qualify as one of theirs under my rule.  Dick Williams played 5 seasons for them, but was elected as a manager and never managed the Dodgers.  Owner Charles Ebbets is not in.

7. Cincinnati Reds, 18: Bid McPhee, Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Sam Crawford, Edd Roush, Eppa Rixey, Ernie Lombardi, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Tom Seaver (6 seasons with Reds), Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr., Bill McKechnie (manager), Sparky Anderson (manager), Red Barber (broadcaster), Marty Brennaman (broadcaster).

Pete Rose, of course, is ineligible. John Franco is not yet in, but if he gets in, he pitched enough seasons with the Reds to qualify for this list. If Lou Piniella is elected as a manager, I'll count him as a Reds HOFer: He only managed them for 3 seasons, but 1 was a World Championship season. Miller Huggins played several years for the Reds, but was elected as a Yankee manager.

Longtime owner Powel Crosley and GM Bob Howsam should be in, but they're not. Waite Hoyt broadcast for the Reds, and was beloved in that role, but has not been given the Ford Frick Award, so I can't count him with the Reds.

And while 2 members of the 1st openly professional baseball team, the 1869-70 Cincinnati Red Stockings, are in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Harry and George Wright -- the other Wright Brothers who "invented" something important in American life -- that team was not the same team as the current Reds franchise, which began in the old American Association of 1882 and joined the NL in 1892.

8. Cleveland Indians, 16: Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie, Elmer Flick, Addie Joss, Tris Speaker (elected as player but also managed them to a title), Stan Coveleski, Joe Sewell, Earl Averill, Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Bob Lemon, Larry Doby, Early Wynn, Gaylord Perry, Al Lopez (manager), Bill Veeck (owner), Jimmy Dudley (broadcaster).

Satchel Paige reached the majors with the Indians, but only pitched 2 seasons for them; although I can count him with 3 different Negro League teams on this list, I can't count him with any major league team. Indeed, that fact is the reason I've included the Negro League teams on this list, along with moved and defunct major league teams.

Jim Thome will probably make it, but, barring a major shift in voters' attitudes, Manny Ramirez is probably out of luck.

9. Detroit Tigers, 16: Sam Crawford, Ty Cobb, Harry Heilmann, Henry "Heinie" Manush, Charlie Gehringer, Goose Goslin, Hank Greenberg (the last 3 nicknamed the "G-Men" in those early days of the FBI), Mickey Cochrane (elected as a player, also managed them to 2 Pennants), Hal Newhouser, George Kell, Al Kaline, Jim Bunning, Ivan Rodriguez, Hughie Jennings (manager, also played for the team), Sparky Anderson (manager), Ernie Harwell (broadcaster).

Jack Morris, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker are all eligible, but it's doubtful that any of them will ever get in. Kaline and Kell were also longtime broadcasters. Longtime owners Frank Navin, Walter Briggs and John Fetzer are not yet in. Former executive Will Harridge is in, but for what he did as President of the AL, so I can't count him as a Tiger HOFer.

10. Philadelphia Phillies, 16: Billy Hamilton, Ed Delahanty, Sam Thompson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Eppa Rixey, Dave Bancroft, Chuck Klein, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Harry Wright (manager), Pat Gillick (executive), By Saam (broadcaster), Harry Kalas (broadcaster).

Ashburn was also a longtime broadcaster for the Phils. If Curt Schilling and Jim Thome get in, they can be counted with the Phillies. Pete Rose, of course, is ineligible.

Philadelphia Athletics, 13: Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell, Frank "Home Run" Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Herb Pennock, Al Simmons, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, George Kell, Connie Mack (owner-manager), By Saam (broadcaster).

11. Baltimore Orioles, 12: Brooks Robinson, Hoyt Wilhelm, Robin Roberts (4 seasons with O's), Luis Aparicio, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Roberto Alomar, Earl Weaver (manager), Chuck Thompson (broadcaster), Jon Miller (broadcaster).

Although he won his only World Series with the Orioles, we don't usually associate Aparicio with them, but he did play 5 seasons with them, so, by my own rule, I've got to count him here. Same with Robin Roberts, who played 4 seasons in Baltimore. Rafael Palmeiro is eligible, but he's not getting in.

Frank Cashen should be in as an executive. Dick Williams played enough seasons with the O's to qualify, but was elected as a manager and never managed them, so he doesn't qualify as an O's HOFer.

Washington Senators, 11: Walter Johnson, Bucky Harris (elected as a manager but was also a great player), Sam Rice, Henry "Heinie" Manush, Goose Goslin, Joe Cronin (elected as a player but also managed them to a Pennant), Rick Ferrell, Early Wynn, Clark Griffith (owner), Arch McDonald (broadcaster), Bob Wolff (broadcaster). 

No, you can't count Ted Williams as a manager.

12. Los Angeles Dodgers, 10: Duke Snider (played 5 seasons for them in L.A.), Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Don Sutton, Mike Piazza, Walter Alston (manager), Tommy Lasorda (manager), Walter O'Malley (owner), Vin Scully (broadcaster), Jamie Jarrin (broadcaster).

Steve Garvey is not getting in. Pedro Martinez started out with the Dodgers, but only played 2 seasons for them.

13. New York Mets, 10: Tom Seaver, Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, Tom Glavine (5 seasons), Pedro Martinez (4 seasons), Casey Stengel (manager, 4 seasons), Joe Torre (manager), Lindsey Nelson (broadcaster), Bob Murphy (broadcaster), Tim McCarver (broadcaster). So that's 3 broadcasters, 3 managers, and 5 players.

Still, you didn't realize the Mets had so many, did you? And that's without counting Ralph Kiner, who was elected as a Pirates' player, not as a Mets' broadcaster. Nor can you count Richie Ashburn, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn, Willie Mays or Nolan Ryan -- and why would you want to count Eddie Murray, Rickey Henderson or Roberto Alomar as Mets?

I had previously counted Yogi Berra, but while he managed them for 4 seasons, including winning a Pennant, he was elected to the Hall as a player, not as a manager, and so I can't count him as a Met HOFer. As for Torre: Yes, he managed in 4 seasons for them. They were awful then, and there wasn't much he could do about it, but he now counts as a Met Hall-of-Famer. Although I notice that, unlike Yogi and Willie, he wasn't invited to the farewell ceremony at Shea Stadium in 2008.

Frank Cashen should be in as an executive. If John Franco is ever elected, you can count him.

14. Atlanta Braves, 9: Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Bobby Cox (manager), Joe Torre (managed them in between Cox's 2 tenures there, also a player), John Schuerholz (general manager), Milo Hamilton (broadcaster).

Fred McGriff, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones will be listed with them if they are elected. Don Sutton broadcasts for the Braves, but can't be counted among their HOFers. Former owners Bill Bartholomay and Ted Turner are not in, nor do I ever expect them to be elected.

15. Oakland Athletics, 9: Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, Dick Williams (manager), Tony LaRussa (manager), Lon Simmons (broadcaster), Bill King (broadcaster).

Mark McGwire is eligible, but he's not getting in. Owner Charlie Finley is eligible, but I don't think he'll ever get in, either. I am bending the rule slightly for Williams, who only managed 3 seasons for the A's, but got them into the postseason in all 3, including 2 World Championships.

Weird: By my rules, even though the A's gained a Hall-of-Famer, they got passed in the rankings by a team that did not gain a player or a manager.

Chicago American Giants (Negro Leagues), 8: Andrew "Rube" Foster (also manager and owner), Bill Foster (a.k.a. Willie Foster, Rube's brother), Cristobal Torriente, Pete Hill, George "Mule" Suttles, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, Willie Wells.

Kansas City Monarchs (Negro Leagues), 8: Jose Mendez, Leroy "Satchel" Paige, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Wilber "Bullet" Rogan, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, Andy Cooper (also manager), Hilton Smith, J.L. Wilkinson (owner).

Bell played 3 seasons for them, but because Negro League players bounced around as much as international soccer players do, and also like club soccer there were often loan deals involved, I'll bend my 4-season rule. John "Buck" O'Neil, 1st baseman and manager, is not in the Hall of Fame, a terrible oversight, especially given that his contributions to the game include what he did in the last 15 or so years of a very long life.

Jackie Robinson played his first season in professional baseball, 1945, with the Monarchs. They were also the first pro team of Ernie Banks. But neither was elected on the basis of anything he did in Kansas City.

16. San Diego Padres, 8: Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Tony Gwynn, Dick Williams (manager), Jerry Coleman (broadcaster), Dick Enberg (broadcaster).

Yes, the Wizard and the Goose each played 4 seasons in Mission Valley. Considering how many they have in a comparatively short history, you shouldn't also count Willie McCovey, Gaylord Perry or Roberto Alomar. Longtime owner Ray Kroc, who saved the team from being moved to Washington in 1974, is not in. Steve Garvey, who is not my Padre, is not getting in.

17. Houston Astros, 8: Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Gene Elston (broadcaster), Milo Hamilton (broadcaster), Harry Kalas (broadcast 6 seasons for them before joining the Phillies' broadcast team).

Roger Clemens is eligible, but only played 3 seasons with the Astros, and, even with his legal exoneration, he may never get in.

Homestead Grays (Negro Leagues), 7: Cumberland "Cum" Posey (pitcher, then manager, then owner), Smokey Joe Williams, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Jud Wilson, Ray Brown.

Oscar Charleston and Judy Johnson each played 2 seasons for them, but I'm not willing to bend the rules THAT much. Gibson was known as the Black Babe Ruth, Leonard as the Black Lou Gehrig, and together they were known as the Thunder Twins or the Dynamite Twins. Williams was sometimes known as Cyclone Joe, sometimes as Smokey Joe (but never as Smokin' Joe, like boxer Frazier).

As for Posey, "Cum" was short for "Cumberland," and it is possible that, like James "Pud" Galvin, his nickname was not considered sexually explicit in his time. As an athlete, he was probably better in football, and Wendell Smith, the leading black sportswriter of the between-the-wars years and a winner of the Hall's Taylor Spink Award for media work, called him "the smartest man in Negro baseball and certainly the most successful."

Newark Eagles (Negro Leagues), 7: George "Mule" Suttles, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, James "Biz" Mackey (also manager), Monte Irvin, Larry Doby, Effa Manley (owner, the only woman in the Baseball Hall of Fame). Don Newcombe also played for the Eagles, and if his service there is counted, I believe that it makes him worthy of election to the Hall, but he hasn't been elected.

18. San Francisco Giants, 7: Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Lon Simmons (broadcaster), Jon Miller (broadcaster).

Barry Bonds is eligible, but who's kidding who? And I'm surprised that longtime owner Horace Stoneham isn't in, and that neither is his son-in-law, Chub Feeney, a Giant executive who became President of the NL.

Montreal Expos, 6: Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Pedro Martinez, Dick Williams (manager), Dave Van Horne (broadcaster). If Larry Walker gets in, they can be counted with the Expos. Duke Snider could not, although he broadcast for the Expos and had played in Montreal for the Dodgers' farm team, the Montreal Royals. So did Tommy Lasorda.

Baltimore Orioles, AA & NL 1882-1899, 6: John McGraw, Wilbert Robinson, Hughie Jennings, Willie Keeler, Joe Kelley, Ned Hanlon (manager).

While McGraw, Robinson and Jennings were all elected as managers, all could have been elected on the basis of their playing for the old Orioles. Indeed, to this day, McGraw has the highest lifetime batting average of any 3rd baseman, .334. Dan Brouthers played 2 seasons with them, the 1894 and '95 Pennant seasons, but can't be counted with them.

St. Louis Browns, 6: Bobby Wallace, George Sisler, Rogers Hornsby (also managed them), Rick Ferrell, Branch Rickey (executive), Bill Veeck (owner).

Rube Waddell, Goose Goslin, Heinie Manush and Satchel Paige just miss, each having played 3 seasons for the Browns. That was also the length of time that Veeck owned the team, but since he (and his one-at-bat midget Eddie Gaedel) are now the people most identified with this team, I'm bending the rule for him.

Pittsburgh Crawfords (Negro Leagues), 5: Oscar Charleston, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, James "Cool Papa" Bell, WIlliam "Judy" Johnson.

19. Texas Rangers, 5: Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan, Ivan Rodrgiuez. Eric Nadel (broadcaster). Bert Blyleven pitched just 2 seasons for them. Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez are eligible, but who's kidding who? No, you can't count Ted Williams as a manager. And I sure hope former owner George W. Bush is never elected; since the team won nothing while he was in control, that seems safe.

20. Minnesota Twins, 5: Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Bert Blyleven, Kirby Puckett, Herb Carneal (broadcaster).

Tom Kelly could be elected as a manager, but Tony Oliva seems unlikely to ever be elected as a player, having missed in the most recent Vets' Committee election by a single vote. No, you can't count Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, or, if he ever gets in, Jack Morris: Although hometown heroes, none played 4 seasons with the Twins. Founder Calvin Griffith is not in, nor should he be.

21. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 5: Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Bert Blyleven, Dick Enberg (broadcaster). Jim Edmonds will have to wait for the Veterans Committee. Founder-owner Gene Autry is not in, but should be.

22. Milwaukee Brewers, 5: Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers, Bud Selig (owner), Bob Uecker (broadcaster). No, you can't count Hank Aaron, because, while he played 14 seasons in Milwaukee, only 2 of those were for the Brewers.

Milwaukee Braves, 4: Warren Spahn, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Red Schoendienst. Joe Torre began his playing career with them, but can't be counted here.

Buffalo Bisons (NL 1879-1885), 4: Dan Brouthers, Jim "Orator" O'Rourke, James "Deacon" White, James "Pud" Galvin.

23. Kansas City Royals, 4: George Brett, Whitey Herzog (manager), John Schuerholz (executive), Denny Matthews (broadcaster). Founder-owner Ewing Kauffman, surprisingly, is not in.

24. Toronto Blue Jays, 4: Roberto Alomar, Pat Gillick (executive), Tom Cheek (broadcaster), Tony Kubek (broadcaster). No, you can't count Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor or Frank Thomas. Or Roger Clemens, if he ever gets in.

Lincoln Giants/Brooklyn Royal Giants (Negro Leagues), 3: Louis Santop, Smokey Joe Williams, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd. Imagine that, a Brooklyn team called the Giants. What the heck, from 1944 to 1948, the NFL had a Boston Yanks (defunct); and, in the 1961-62 season, the NBA had a Chicago team called the Packers (today's Washington Wizards).

Cuban Giants (Negro Leagues, based in New York), 3: Frank Grant, Sol White, Pete Hill. Unlike the later Cuban Stars and New York Cubans, both also based in New York, this 1880s-90s team had no Cubans: They were called "Cuban" so their all-black roster would be better accepted. Grant has been called the best black player of the 19th Century.

Detroit Stars (Negro Leagues), 3: Pete Hill, Andy Cooper, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes. Stearnes now has a statue at Comerica Park, alongside several Tiger greats.

Indianapolis ABCs (Negro Leagues), 3: Oscar Charleston, Ben Taylor, James "Biz" Mackey (also managed them). A later team, the Indianapolis Clowns, was the first professional team of Hank Aaron.

Philadelphia Giants (Negro Leagues), 3: Sol White, Pete Hill, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd.

Philadelphila Hilldale (Negro Leagues), 3: Martin DiHigo, James "Biz" Mackey (also managed them), William "Judy" Johnson.

St. Louis Stars (Negro Leagues), 3: George "Mule" Suttles, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Willie Wells.

Cuban Stars (Negro Leagues, based in New York), 3: Jose Mendez, Martin Dihigo, Alex Pompez (owner).

25. Seattle Mariners, 3: Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., Pat Gillick (executive). Edgar Martinez is eligible, but I don't think he'll ever get in. If Lou Piniella is elected as a manager, I'll have to count him as a Mariner HOFer.

Providence Grays (NL 1878-1885), 2: John Montgomery Ward, Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourn. Their 1879 Pennant was managed by original 1869 Cincinnati Red Stocking George Wright, but he only played with them for 2 seasons.

Cleveland Spiders (NL, 1887-1899), 2: Cy Young and Jesse Burkett.

Detroit Wolverines (NL, 1881-1888), 2: Sam Thompson, Ned Hanlon (elected as a manager but played 8 seasons for them). Dan Brouthers and Deacon White played 3 seasons for them.

26. Miami Marlins, 2: Felo Ramirez and Dave Van Horne (both broadcasters). Ivan Rodriguez was only a Marlin for 1 season, although it was a World Championship season. If Gary Sheffield gets in, he can be counted as a Marlin, but I don't think he's getting in. No, you can't count Miami native Andre Dawson, although he did close his career with the club and is now working in their front office. So is Tony Perez, who briefly managed the team, but you can't count him, either.

Baltimore Black Sox (Negro Leagues), 2: Jud Wilson, Ben Taylor. This team is not to be confused with the Elite Giants.

Washington/Baltimore Elite Giants (Negro Leagues), 2: James "Biz" Mackey (also manager), Roy Campanella. And that's pronounced EE-light, not the usual Eh-LEET.

Birmingham Black Barons (Negro Leagues), 2: George "Mule" Suttles, Satchel Paige. Willie Mays played his first professional season, 1948, for the Black Barons, but only that 1 season, so he can't be counted here.

Kansas City Stars (Negro Leagues), 2: James "Cool Papa" Bell, Willard Brown.

New York Cubans (Negro Leagues), 2: Martin DiHigo, Alex Pompez. Although DiHigo and Pompez were also involved with the Cuban Stars, and that team was also based in New York, it was not the same team as the New York Cubans. Like several of the Negro League owners, Pompez got some funding from the black organized crime bosses of the era, and eventually turned state's evidence to avoid prison. He later worked as an unofficial scout for the New York/San Francisco Giants, helping to sign Hispanic stars like Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, and the Alou brothers.

Philadelphia Stars (Negro Leagues), 2: James "Biz" Mackey (also manager), Jud Wilson.

27. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1: Randy Johnson. If Curt Schilling gets in, he can be counted with them.

28. Washington Nationals, 1: Frank Robinson, their 1st manager, was already in the Hall long before MLB returned to D.C., but he did manage for them for 5 years, 1 more than my rules require. But you can't count the HOFers from this franchise's previous incarnation, the Montreal Expos.

Bacharach Giants (Negro Leagues), 1: John Henry "Pop" Lloyd.  This team played its home games in Atlantic City, and were named for Harry Bacharach, who was that city's Mayor on and off from 1912 to 1935. He was played by John Rue on the TV series "Boardwalk Empire." Lloyd stayed in Atlantic City after he retired, died there, and a youth baseball facility there is named for him.

Harrisburg Giants (Negro Leagues), 1: Oscar Charleston.

San Antonio Black Bronchos (Negro Leagues, pronounced like Broncos), 1: Smokey Joe Williams.

29. Tampa Bay Rays, none: If Fred McGriff gets in, he can be counted with them. Wade Boggs cannot. Nor, if he is ever elected as a manager, can Lou Piniella.

30. Colorado Rockies, none: If Larry Walker gets in, he can be counted with them.

Kansas City Athletics, none: No player in the Hall of Fame was with the A's in their K.C. tenure for at least 4 seasons.

Rock, Bags and Pudge for the Hall. Who Else Deserved It?

Tim Raines is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I have wanted that for years -- and would still have wanted it if he had never played a game for the Yankees. He will almost certainly have a Montreal Expos cap on in the picture on his plaque.

Jeff Bagwell is also elected. Also overdue. Fantastic hitter, and probably the best player the Houston Astros have ever had. (It could also be Craig Biggio. Nolan Ryan was only there for 9 seasons.)

Ivan Rodriguez is elected. He joins Mike Piazza, elected last year, and who has both confessed and denied the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
So, now, there is no reason to not also elect Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, Curt Schilling and... Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens.

Or are they just paving the way to elect the most notorious steroid cheat of all time, David Ortiz, and to keep sticking it to A-Rod and the Rocket? We shall see.
*

A player needs 75 percent of the vote to get in via the Baseball Writers Association of America. Bagwell got 86 percent. So did Raines. Rodriguez got 76 percent -- and, of the 3, he was the only one in his 1st year on the ballot.

Of the guys who didn't make it on this ballot...

* Jorge Posada, Magglio Ordonez, Edgar Renteria, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, Casey Blake, Pat Burrell, Orlando Cabrera, Mike Cameron, J.D. Drew, Carlos Guillen, Derrek Lee, Melvin Mora, Arthur Rhodes, Freddy Sanchez and Matt Stairs, all in their 1st year on the ballot, got less than 5 percent of the vote, and will thus never appear on another ballot of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Their future hopes, if any, rest with the Committee on Veterans. Don't expect any of them to ever make it.

* Trevor Hoffman, in his 2nd year, got 74 percent. He missed by the slimmest of margins. This suggests that he will get in next year, when the 1st-time eligibles will include Jim Thome (should be an easy choice), Chipper Jones (likely, though not necessarily on the 1st try), Omar Vizquel (ditto), Scott Rolen (possible, but probably not on the 1st try), Andruw Jones (ditto), Johnny Damon (probably won't make it until he reaches the Veterans' Committee) and Johan Santana (forget it).

* Vladimir Guerrero, in his 1st year, got 71 percent. This also suggests he'll get in, so, next year, it should be him, Hoffman, Thome, and possibly also Chipper.

* Edgar Martinez, in his 8th year, got 58 percent. I think he'll also have to wait for the Vets' Committee. I don't think he should get in. He just doesn't have the career stats, and the stats that he does have are inflated by playing home games in the Seattle Kingdome.

* Mike Mussina, another Yankee hero, in his 4th year, got 51 percent. Might he also have to wait for the Vets' Committee? That's a travesty.

* Lee Smith, in his 15th and final year on the ballot, got 34 percent. He's done by the way of the Writers. It's up to the Vets' Committee now. The problem is, the best reason to vote for him was that he was the all-time saves leader -- and now, he ranks 3rd, so that reason is gone.

* Larry Walker, in his 7th year, got 22 percent. Another who will probably have to wait for the Vets' Committee. He's a borderline case, not helped by having Coors Field in Denver as a home park for much of his career (hitting stats inflated by the thin air). I like him, but should he get in? The usual answer is something to the effect of, "If you can't immediately say, 'Yes,' then the answer is 'No.'"

* Fred McGriff, in his 8th year, got 21 percent. Come on, this guy hit 493 home runs, as many as Lou Gehrig, and (as far as we can tell) without pharmaceutical enhancement. And while he played 5 seasons in Atlanta and 2 at Wrigley Field, he also played 5 in Toronto, 2 in San Diego, 5 in Tampa Bay and 1 in Dodger Stadium. He belongs. But he'll probably have to wait until the Vets' Committee.

* Jeff Kent, in his 4th year, got 16 percent. The all-time leader in HRs by a 2nd baseman, but not a well-liked guy. Vets' Committee? Maybe.

* Billy Wagner, in his 2nd year, got 10 percent. Among lefthanders and among National League pitchers, only John Franco has more saves (by 2: 424 to 422). But Franco isn't in the Hall, and I don't think he ever will be. I don't think Wags will be, either.

Of all the players on the ballot, only 2 players had a lower percentage than last year: Schilling and Wagner.

*

Now, for the elephants in the room: The steroid users, those caught and those suspected.

* Roger Clemens, accused but never proven, 5th year: 54 percent. He gained 9 percent over last year. He won't get in in 2018, but the 2019 debutants, aside from Mariano Rivera, aren't obvious: Andy Pettitte (himself tainted due to his one-time use to recover from an injury in 2002), Miguel Tejada (caught cheating), Lance Berkman (suspected, but never proven, and probably wouldn't have gotten in anyway), Roy Halladay (clean, as far as we know, but a career ended early due to injury means he'll probably have to wait) and Todd Helton (clean, as far as we know).

* Barry Bonds, caught, 5th year: 54 percent -- 1 less vote than Clemens. Unless that 1 voter was going by the fact that Clemens went to court and beat the rap, while Bonds went to court and didn't beat it, I don't know how you split your vote: Either both should get in, or neither. Bonds also gained 9 percent over the year before. He might also have to wait until 2019.

* Curt Schilling, suspected, 5th year: 45 percent. He lost 7 percent over last year. It could be due to his political stances, but that's never stopped anybody from getting in before. If anything, baseball as an institution is conservative -- and we're talking about the institution of the game, not the players, who are members of a labor union (even if they, themselves, are somewhere to the right of General Patton). But Schilling could also be hurt by the way he's conducted himself, including his fraud case in Rhode Island. Still, unless you can prove he cheated, then his 3,000+ strikeouts and his big game reputation should put him in.

* Manny Ramirez, caught, 1st year: 24 percent. He'll probably have to wait as long as Bonds and the rest eventually end up waiting.
* Gary Sheffield, caught, 3rd year: 13 percent. He gained 2 percent over last year. It could be a while.

* Sammy Sosa, suspected, 5th year: 8 percent. He gained 2 percent over last year. It could also be a while, because, while he's never been caught, he really made himself look guilty during the St. Patrick's Day Massacre.
Speaking of guys whose chances were probably killed by that Congressional hearing of March 17, 2005:
* Mark McGwire, confessed: Dropped off the ballot last year, having received only 12 percent.

* Rafael Palmeiro, caught: Dropped off the ballot in 2004, having received only 4 percent.

*

Among the steroid cheats: If it no longer matters, then, of course, they should all get in. But if it does still matter, then, the least you can do is ask: Who would have put up Hall-worthy numbers if they'd never taken the stuff -- or hadn't been caught?
Would have made it anyway: Both Rodriguezes, Bonds, Ramirez, Schilling and Clemens.
Would not have made it anyway: Piazza, McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro, Sheffield and Ortiz.
Regardless, Induction Day in the Summer of 2022 -- the 1st time A-Rod and the Big Fat Lying Cheating Bastard are eligible -- could end up being, as Arte Johnson would have said on Laugh-In, "Verrry intereshting... but shtupid."

Top 10 Yankee Left Fielders

This is a tough one. Several center and right fielders in Yankee history have also played left field at various times in their careers, including Major League Baseball All-Century Team honorees Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. I decided to limit this to only players who are best known for playing the position.

That gets harder when you consider that, from 1955 to '58, the Yankees' main left fielder was Elston Howard, who was a catcher by trade, but was waiting behind Yogi Berra. In 1959, Yogi's decline began, although he could still hit, and he and Ellie switched positions. So both Yogi, who remained the starting left fielder until 1962, and Ellie could be among the Top 10 Yankee Left Fielders -- even among the Top 5. But I won't, since I've already included them in the Top 10 Yankee Catchers. That means there's going to be a big gap from 1955 to 1962, one of the most successful periods in Yankee history. This also lets out Johnny Damon.

Honorable Mention to William "Birdie" Cree, 1908-15. The 1st time I did this, I put him at Number 10. He got his nickname because he liked to whistle. He twice batted over .300 and helped the Highlanders/Yankees finish 2nd in 1910. In 1911, he batted .348 with 30 doubles, 22 triples, 4 homers and 88 RBIs.

Dishonorable Mention to Ben Chapman (1930-36) and Jake Powell (1936-40). Chapman was a member of the 1932 World Champions, a .302 lifetime hitter, a 4-time All-Star, and one of the few base-stealing threats the Yankees had between the 1920 arrival of Babe Ruth and the 1975 return of Billy Martin.

But as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947, he led the most vicious bench-jockeying any athlete has ever received, the noxious racial abuse hurled by the Phils at Jackie Robinson. The backlash got so bad that it was recommended that, when the Dodgers got to Philadelphia, the two men pose for a conciliatory picture. But the Alabama-born Chapman refused to shake hands with Robinson, settling instead for posing with the two of them holding the same bat.

The next year, with the Phillies having rising stars like Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts but still far behind the National League lead, Chapman was fired, and, except for a brief tenure as a Reds coach, never worked in the game again. And the Phillies began to get better, winning the Pennant in 1950. This was the last NL Pennant won by an all-white team, and the Phils would be the last NL team to integrate, in 1957.

Years later, Chapman would admit he had gone too far with Robinson. Powell did not. He was, effectively, Champman's replacement as Yankee left fielder, and was a member of the 4 straight World Championship teams of 1936-39.

But in 1938, with the Yankees in Chicago, White Sox broadcaster Bob Elson interviewed him for a pregame radio show, and asked Powell what he did in the off-season. The native of the suburbs of Washington, D.C. said he was a police officer in Dayton, Ohio. Asked what he did to keep in shape, Powell told Elson, "Crack (N-word)s over the head with my nightstick."

Even as notorious a racist as Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis knew this was too much – and, as a former federal judge, probably also cared that his claim of being a lawman was a bald-faced lie – and he suspended Powell for 8 games. Two years later, Powell was out of The Bronx, and was out of the game by 1945. In 1948, arrested for public drunkenness, he grabbed a cop's gun and shot himself, an ironic end considering what he’s best known for.

10. Brett Gardner, 2008-present. Along with Alex Rodriguez, Gardy is the last remaining Yankee who played home games at the old Yankee Stadium. Like Willie Randolph, he was born in Holly Hill, South Carolina; unlike Willie, his family stayed there, and he grew up there. Like Willie, he became a Yankee star.

He's best known for his speed, having stolen 202 bases in his career. In 2011, he led the American League with 49 steals. In 2013, he led the AL with 10 triples. Last season, he was named an All-Star for the 1st time. He's never won a Gold Glove, which is ridiculous.

He probably won't get a Plaque in Monument Park or his Number 11 retired, but he was a member of the 2009 World Champions, and he deserves our thanks for that.

9. Tim Raines, 1996-98. He spent just 3 seasons in Pinstripes, but they were all Playoff seasons, and '96 and '98 were World Championship seasons. "Rock" batted .321 in '97 and .290 in '98, despite being 37 and 38 years old in those seasons. In Game 3 of the ’96 Series, he led off the game with a walk, and scored on Bernie Williams' single to give the Yanks their first lead of the Series, and later started a double play. His 2-out walk in the top of the 10th led to his scoring the winning run in Game 4.

Overall for his career, he was a 7-time All-Star, with a .294 average, a 123 OPS+, 2,605 hits, and a whopping 808 stolen bases, 5th all-time and the most of anybody not in the Hall of Fame. Judging by Baseball-Reference.com's HOF Monitor (90 of 100), HOF Standards (47 of 50), and Top 10 Most Similar Batters (4 of 10 already in), he's got a very good case.

His Number 30 was retired by the Montreal Expos, but Willie Randolph was coaching with the Yankees at the time, so Raines took 31. If that number is ever retired by the Yankees, it will be for someone else on this list.

UPDATE: Raines was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017.

8. Roy White, 1965-79. He was the 1st Yankee (or former Yankee) I ever actually met (if you'll pardon the choice of that word), and all the talk about him being classy was an understatement.

His timing was bad, arriving just as the old dynasty was collapsing, but he was a 2-time All-Star, led the American League in walks in 1972 and runs in 1976, and finally got to play in 3 World Series, winning 2. His 1st-inning homer in Game 3 of the '78 Series gave the Yanks their 1st lead of the Series, and in Game 4 he scored the winning run in the 10th. It was against his hometown team, the Los Angeles Dodgers: Like Brooklyn and L.A. Dodger legend Duke Snider, Roy was, literally, straight outta Compton.

He never batted .300, hit 25 homers or had 100 RBIs, although he came close to each. But he won games and he won titles. He wasn’t a headline, but he helped make them. He later became a Yankee coach. His Number 6 has been retired, although not for him. But he was the 1st former player introduced at the old Yankee Stadium finale in 2008, and deservedly got a big hand.

7. Gene Woodling, 1949-54. He was from Akron, Ohio – the 1st Yankee star to be born there, but Thurman Munson ensured that he wouldn't be the last – and became the last Yankee star to be purchased from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League.

He helped the Yankees win the next 5 World Series, batting over .300 in 1952 and '53. Not that anybody knew it at the time, but he led the AL in on-base percentage in '53, .429. He bobbled what should have been the last out of the 1950 Series, costing rookie Whitey Ford a shutout, but in a far tighter situation (ahead by 2 with the winning run at the plate in Game 7, as opposed to the earlier 5-run lead in a sweep-clincher), caught the last out of the '52 Series.

The Yankees included him in the biggest trade in baseball history, the 18-player deal with the Baltimore Orioles after the '54 season that brought in 2 pitchers who would make their mark in Pinstripe history: Don Larsen, still the only man to pitch a no-hitter in the World Series; and Bob Turley, the 1st Yankee to win the Cy Young Award. It was with the O’s that he reached his only All-Star Game, in '59. (A guy named Ted Williams being in the AL and having the one subpar year of his career in '59 had something to do with that.)

6. Tom Tresh, 1961-69. He had a cup of coffee with the M&M Boys' Yankees, then was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1962, playing shortstop while Tony Kubek was spending most of the season in the Army. He moved to the outfield when Kubek came back, and, depending on how big the field was in a ballpark and how much Mickey Mantle's legs were bothering him, spent much of the next 4 seasons switching between left and center with Mickey.

An All-Star in '62 and '63 and a Gold Glove in '65, his homer won Game 5 of the '62 Series, and his homer in Game 1 of '63 broke up a no-hitter by Sandy Koufax (though it didn't stop Koufax from fanning 15, then a Series record and still a Series record for lefties).

He never batted .300 or had 100 RBIs, but topped 20 homers 4 times – and, like Mantle, was a switch-hitter, so he wasn't just taking advantage of the pre-renovation Stadium's right field "short porch," and in fact was hurt by its left and center field Death Valley.

He grew up outside Detroit, where his father Mike Tresh grew up; unlike his father, who played mostly for the White Sox, he finished his career with their hometown Tigers. His own son, Mickey (named for Mantle), was a Yankee farmhand, but never got past Double-A ball.

5. Lou Piniella, 1974-84. The 1969 AL Rookie of the Year with the Kansas City Royals, he didn't get along with management there, so they sent him to the Yankees for lefty reliever Lindy McDaniel. This was a great trade for both teams. McDaniel was washed up, but he was practically an extra pitching coach for the Royals' young staff. Piniella, well, let’s just say he was called "Sweet Lou" for his swing, not for his disposition.

Originally, he played mostly right field, with White in left. By the time Reggie Jackson arrived for 1977, White was mostly a bench player and Lou was the main man in left, and he became a pretty good left fielder, his catch taking a home run away from Ron Cey of the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series. In the 1978 Playoff with the Red Sox, Reggie was the DH, Roy was in left and Lou in right, and he made 2 key plays in that game to save it.

And what a hitter: .291 lifetime average, 109 OPS+, 6 .300 seasons (4 with the Yankees), and always seemed to come through in key situations. As a boy, I enjoyed Nathan Salant's book This Day In Yankee History, and as he wrote of the 1978 "Boston Massacre" series, he mentioned that Reggie had been intentionally walked: "That made no sense at all, because the next batter was the Red Sox killer himself, Lou Piniella."

Salant was right: Piniella went 10-for-16 with 5 RBIs in that series. He also batted .305 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs in his 5 ALCS appearances, and .319 with 10 RBIs (albeit none on homers) in his 4 World Series. His single in the 10th inning won Game 4 of the '78 Series, driving in the aforementioned White. If it was October, and Lou was batting against you, you were not thinking it was sweet.

He retired, and became the Yankees hitting instructor, then, except for a brief 5th term for Billy Martin, was the Yankees' manager from 1985 to '88, getting them in the AL East race 4 straight seasons, but never getting that 1 extra starting pitcher he needed from George Steinbrenner. He helped make Don Mattingly a great hitter, but had to go to the Cincinnati Reds – where he helped make Paul O’Neill a great hitter, if one with a similarly explosive temper – to win a Pennant and a World Series as a manager. (The opposing manager was Tony La Russa of the Oakland Athletics -- he and Lou played high school ball together in Tampa.) He remains the only manager to lead the Seattle Mariners to a postseason berth, 4 of them.

It's unlikely that the Number 14 he wore as a Yankee will be retired anytime soon, but Lou was a classic Yankee, and one of my 5 favorite players of my time.

4. Bob Meusel, 1920-29. "Long Bob" and his brother Emil (known as Irish even though the family was of German descent) were from San Jose, and among the earliest Californians to reach the majors – or, as the people involved in or rooting for teams in the Pacific Coast League said until 1957, "the eastern leagues." Both went to New York, Irish to the Giants, Bob to the Yankees, and they opposed each other in 3 straight World Series, the Giants winning in 1921 and ’22, the Yankees in '23. Bob also helped the Yankees win the '26 Pennant and the '27 and '28 World Series.

He was a lifetime .318 hitter, who was a perfect fit in the Yankee lineup, 5th after Babe Ruth batted 3rd and Lou Gehrig 4th – hence, in his last full season, 1929, the 1st season in which the Yankees wore uniform numbers, Meusel was the first to wear the Number 5 that would be solely identified with Joe DiMaggio (who, of course, did not always bat 5th).

Five times, Meusel drove in at least 100 runs, and led the AL in homers and RBIs in 1925. He played with the Cincinnati Reds in 1930, then headed back west and ended his career in the PCL. He died in 1977, at age 81.

3. Charlie Keller, 1939-49, with a brief return in '52. He was big and strong and hairy, and for this they called him "King Kong" – though not to his face, as he hated the nickname. (This was also true of Joe Medwick, who was called "Muscles" because you didn't use "Ducky" in front of him.) This guy formed one of the greatest outfields ever, with Joe DiMaggio in center and Tommy Henrich in right.

His best known hit was a double off the right-field wall at Ebbets Field to complete the rally after Mickey Owen’s muff kept the Yanks alive in Game 4 of the 1941 World Series. He was hitting at a Hall of Fame pace, averaging a .296 batting average, 24 homers and 98 RBIs in his 1st 5 seasons, 4 of which ended with Yankee Pennants (1939, '41, '42 and '43) and 3 with World Series wins (all but ’42).

Then he went off to war, and when he got back, a back injury slowed him down. He helped the Yankees win a 4th and 5th Series in '47 and '49, but that was pretty much it for him: His last great year was at age 29, and he packed it in at 35. He returned to his native Maryland and trained racehorses at his Yankeeland Ranch, many of them with "Yankee" in their names.

2. Hideki Matsui, 2003-09. In his 1st home game at a Yankee Stadium, he hit an Opening Day grand slam. In his last home game at a Yankee Stadium, he went 3-for-4 with a homer and 6 RBIs to clinch a World Championship for the team, and the World Series MVP for himself. In between, he gave us a bunch of memories, including one of the 4 straight hits off Pedro Martinez in 2003 ALCS Game 7, maybe the best game ever played at the old Stadium.

In U.S. play, he batted .282 with 175 home runs. In 4 seasons, he drove in 100 or more runs for the Yankees; twice, he batted over .300. In the U.S. and Japan combined, he hit 507 homers. I know, it doesn't work that way.

"Godzilla" was a beast. I wonder if he'll be the 1st Yankee to get a Plaque with part of its text not in English? His Number 55 is currently being worn by relief pitcher Bryan Mitchell. That's a travesty: If you're not going to retire it, at least give it to a better player.

But then, look who's gotten Number 31 since the guy at Number 1 on this list: Good players like the aforementioned Tim Raines, Lance Johnson, Glenallen Hill, Ichiro Suzuki, and currently (though he'll miss the entire 2016 season due to injury) Greg Bird; but also the disappointing Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens, Aaron Small and Jose Veras; a once-good but washed-up Frank Tanana, the execrable Javier Vazquez in his totally unnecessary 2nd go-round in Pinstripes; and nonentities like Brian Dorsett, Mike Humphreys, Xavier Hernandez, Brian Boehringer, Dan Naulty, Steve Karsay, Jason Anderson, Edwar Ramirez, Josh Phelps, Michael Dunn, Pedro Feliciano, Gregorio Petit and Ramon Flores.

No, it's about time the Steinbrenner brothers put their father's grudge against this man behind them, and retired Number 31 and gave a Plaque in Monument Park to...

1. Dave Winfield, 1981-90. In the strictest sense, Big Dave was the Yankees' main left fielder for only 3 seasons: 1981, '82 and '83, before moving over to right field. (Steve Kemp was the main one in '84, Ken Griffey Sr. in '85, Dan Pasqua in '86, Gary Ward in '87, Rickey Henderson moving from center to left for '88, then Mel Hall taking over after Rickey was traded in '89.)

Big Dave went 1-for-21 in the 1981 World Series, and that led George Steinbrenner to eventually call him "Mr. May." It was totally unfair, and even less fair was how George got rid of him -- which led to baseball temporarily getting rid of George, and Dave getting the hit that clinched the 1992 Series for the Toronto Blue Jays.

He collected 3,110 hits, including 540 doubles and 465 home runs, 205 of those as a Yankee.  He had 1,833 RBIs, 17th all-time, 6th among players born after World War II, and if you take away steroid users he is thus surpassed only by Eddie Murray and Ken Griffey Jr.

He is in the Hall of Fame, and had most of his great years with the Yankees. No ring? Don Mattingly has a Plaque but no ring, and he was not a better player than Winfield. The ovations Dave gets when he comes back for Old-Timers' Day are not enough: Hank, Hal, give him his Plaque! And don't ever let another kid just off the Columbus -- excuse me, Scranton -- Shuttle sully his 31!

A Travesty In Cooperstown

Worst Baseball Hall of Fame vote ever. A travesty in Cooperstown.

I have no problem with electing Ken Griffey Jr. He hit 630 home runs. Only 3 men have ever hit more honestly: Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. And that's before we get into his defense, frequently good, sometimes magnificent. If not for injuries, he might have had more home runs than anyone, ever, honest or otherwise.

But they didn't elect Tim Raines, who stole over 800 bases, and won 2 World Series with the Yankees.

They didn't elect Jeff Bagwell, one of the best hitters of his generation, and a man who's never been seriously connected to performance-enhancing drugs.

They didn't elect Mike Mussina, who won 270 games while pitching in the 5-man rotation era. If 5/4 = 1.2, then 270 x 1.2 = 324. That should be much more than enough to get in. He did this despite being a righthanded pitcher, pitching his home games in Camden Yards in Baltimore and the old Yankee Stadium, both with short porches in right field that made them very friendly to lefthanded hitters, thus unfriendly to righthanded pitchers.

They didn't elect Trevor Hoffman, the former all-time leader in saves, and still the all-time leader among National League pitchers.

*

Now, I come to the elephant in the room: Those players who have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The names include Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Mike Piazza... and Roger Clemens. One day, when they're eligible, they will also include Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

I'm not including Jason Giambi, because, even with PEDs, he doesn't have the numbers to get in. Nor does Jose Canseco. Nor does Juan Gonzalez. Nor does Luis Gonzalez.

Only one has ever had his day in court and beaten the rap: Clemens.

Clemens, as anyone over the age of 20 remembers, has a history with Piazza, the other man elected today along with Griffey.

I will not defend Clemens having hit Piazza in the head with a pitch. I will, however, use it to remind everyone that, when Roger Clemens was trying to throw an object at someone, he actually hit that person.

Roger Clemens did not throw a broken piece of a bat at Mike Piazza in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series. Anybody who says he did is a liar. Including, in that clip, notorious Yankee Haters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. If Clemens had truly meant to throw it at Piazza, Piazza would have been hit. Even McCarver said it was only "near Piazza," and Buck admitted it was "two feet away." It was not "a blatant act."

It was Piazza who freaked out. (Or should that be "froke out"?). It was Piazza who exhibited "roid rage." It was Clemens who kept his cool and then got Piazza out, much as he would do 3 years later to outed steroid user Ramirez after that disgusting display by the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series.

Roger Clemens was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. He denied it. He was indicted. His accuser didn't have the goods.

Piazza has been accused, and, indeed, has confessed. And this is from a pro-Mets blog.

I understand voting for Piazza -- if you also vote for Clemens. I understand denying Clemens your vote -- if you do the same for Piazza. And I understand voting for Clemens, who has the stats to get in, and not for Piazza, who is, at best, a borderline case.

You cannot vote for Piazza and not Clemens, and remain intellectually honest. If Piazza belongs, all of the accused belong, including Clemens. But if Clemens doesn't belong, none of them do, including Piazza.

Of course, the Yankee Doodle Double Standard will continue. Someday, Ortiz will be elected, and A-Rod will be denied. Possibly in the same election.

God only knows if they'll elect Manny, who angered many people with his shoving an old man. But then, in the same contretemps where Manny challenged Clemens, Pedro Martinez actually grabbed an old man by the head, and threw him to the ground, and he's in. I guess the voters think it's okay to do anything, as long as it's the Yankees who get hurt.

Mike Piazza does not belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame until Roger Clemens is in. Simple as that, baby.

Therefore, this vote, both for Piazza, and against Clemens -- and against Bagwell, against whom the accusations aren't even remotely serious; and against Raines, Mussina and Hoffman, 3 men against whom there has never been a PED charge -- is a travesty.

And who are the 3 voters -- he got 437 out of 440 -- who voted against Griffey? And why? Did they think he was using PEDs? They need to stand up and speak.

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UPDATE: Through the Baseball Hall of Fame's election of 2019:

* In: Raines, Bagwell, Hoffman, Mussina and Pudge Rodriguez (accused, has denied, never been revealed to have been caught).

* Eligible but accused, and still out: Bonds (caught), McGwire (confessed), Sosa (accused but never publicly proven), Palmeiro (caught and still lies about it), Sheffield (caught and still sticks to his explanation), Ramirez (caught), Canseco (confessed), Juan Gonzalez (accused but never publicly proven), Luis Gonzalez (accused but never publicly proven), and Pettitte (his explanation being the only one remotely viable, and should give him a pass, but he's a Yankee, so it hasn't).

* Eligible in 2020, but confessed: Giambi.

* Eligible in 2022: A-Rod (caught and confessed) and Ortiz (caught and still lies about it).

Analyzing the 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame Vote

Left to right: John Smoltz, Randy Johnson,

Craig Biggio and Pedro Martinez

Randy Johnson: 534 votes, 97.3 percent. Over 300 wins and over 4,000 strikeouts, more than any lefthander in history, and one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. A jerk, but he belongs.

Pedro Martinez: 500 votes, 91.1 percent. Over 3,000 strikeouts, and one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. A jerk, but he belongs.

John Smoltz: 455 votes, 82.9 percent. Over 3,000 strikeouts, and won 213 games despite essentially missing 2 years and then spending 3 years in he bullpen, where he had 154 saves. And, by all accounts, a nice guy. He belongs.

Craig Biggio: 454 votes, 82.7 percent. Over 3,000 hits. It took a few years, but the voters finally recognized that he belongs.

There can be no reasonable objection to any of these. Even Don Zimmer, had he lived 1 more year, would have agreed with that.

As for those who didn't make it:

Mike Piazza: 384 votes, 69.9 percent. Whether I like him, or his teams (I despise both the Mets and the Dodgers) is irrelevant. There are only 3 questions as to whether a player gets in. First: Does he have the stats? Second: If he doesn't quite have the stats, are there other factors that might put him over the top, such as winning, historical significance, or character? And, third: Is any of the preceding compromised by cheating?

In Piazza's case: First, yes, he has the stats; second, since the answer to the first was yes, we don't need to consider this; and, third, that's the $64 million question. He needed 412 voters to say, "I don't see enough evidence that he cheated, so he should be in," and fell short by 28. Is he paying for his own sins, or for those of others?

It could be that, since there is no method (at least, not that the general public knows of) for expelling a member once he's already elected, the voters of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) don't want to put someone in who might later be exposed as someone who should be kicked out. Hence, while proof of performance-enhancing drugs has never been publicly shown for either Piazza or his 2000 bête noire Roger Clemens, the writers may still think that the proof is out there, just waiting to be found.

Until that proof is found, they should be in. If that's not good enough for you, then put in a procedure for kicking out the unworthy -- and I don't mean the statistically unworthy, as some people believe is the case for certain honorees. (I won't name names here.)

Jeff Bagwell: 306 votes, 55.7 percent. He won a Rookie of the Year, an MVP (and nearly 2 others), and a Gold Glove. From 1993 to 2003, he was one of the top 5 hitters in the game -- and from 1993 to 1999, he had to do that in the pitching-friendly Astrodome, not the homer-happy Minute Maid Park. He batted .297 lifetime, hit 449 home runs, and (while this is generally not a stat Hall voters look at, it should be) his OPS+ was 149, meaning he was 49 percent better at producing offense than the average player of his time.

Like Piazza, he is being denied because he did it in the Steroid Era; unlike Piazza, against whom there is some evidence (if inconclusive), there is no serious accusation against Bagwell. True, he had many years of good production and then dropped off precipitously, but he was 37. That's hardly unusual. It wasn't due to suspicious injury, and he hasn't had health problems since. I don't think he used PEDs. Put him in.

Tim Raines: 302 votes, 55.0 percent. .294 BA, 2,605 hits, 7 All-Star berths, 2 World Series rings, 808 stolen bases. Let me say that again: Eight hundred and eight stolen bases. Drugs? Orlando Cepeda and Ferguson Jenkins battled drugs, and they're in. Raines overcome drugs, too. There is no logical reason to keep him out.

Curt Schilling: 215 votes, 39.2 percent. Again, whether you like a player is irrelevant. You don't like his attitude? You don't like what he did to your teams? You don't like his politics? Fine, but we're not deciding whether to elect him to the Hall of Friends, it's the Hall of Fame. Curt Schilling is an ass on multiple levels. But he has over 3,000 strikeouts, won 216 games in the Five Man Rotation Era (a few pitchers with fewer, in the Four Man Rotation Era, are in), made 6 All-Star Teams, and was 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in postseason play.

Does he have sufficient achievements? Yes. Did he come by them honestly? Ah, now we're getting into a gray area.

There are people who, once he becomes eligible, would keep out Andy Pettitte for his admission of a small mistake. Schilling was every bit the Roger Clemens acolyte that Pettitte was, and he played on the most steroid-boosted team of all time, the 2004-08 Boston Red Sox. And he started having suspicious injuries at 36. And he went bald quickly. And he developed cancer (which is now in remission). All symptoms of steroid use. And still, nobody has tested the blood on that sock.

Why? Because, if true, it would be the final nail in the coffin of the myth of the wonderful Red Sox story: We already know that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were dirty lowdown lying cheating bastards, even if some of "us" choose to let that go; "we" don't want to hear that Schilling cheated, too. "We" don't want to hear the answer, so "we" don't want to ask the question.

Roger Clemens: 206 votes, 37.5 percent;
Barry Bonds: 202 votes, 36.8 percent;
Gary Sheffield: 64 votes, 11.7 percent;
Mark McGwire: 55 votes, 10.0 percent;
Sammy Sosa: 36 votes, 6.6 percent;
Rafael Palmeiro: Already once got less than 5 percent, off the BBWAA ballot permanently.

Bonds and Palmeiro got caught, it's been reported that Sosa was as well, McGwire confessed, and Sheffield implicated himself, so they never get in.

Clemens still denies it, and the evidence against him (that we've seen) has thus far been a flop. "Innocent until proven guilty," and nobody has proven a thing against him. Statistically, it's an easy choice. So unless you've got better evidence than we've yet seen, to hell with your personal feelings about him: He should be in. Last year, despite the feelings of betrayal that many Red Sox fans still have about him, the Sox put him in their team Hall of Fame. If they can do it... Not that I want the Yankees to put him in Monument Park...

Lee Smith: 166 votes, 30.2 percent. The argument in his favor was that he was the all-time leader in saves. He hasn't been that for many years. He doesn't get in.

Edgar Martinez: 148 votes, 27.0 percent. A .312 BA, 514 doubles, a 147 OPS+... but just 2,247 hits, 309 homers, and never appeared in a World Series. Maybe he, Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and the unrelated Tino Martinez saved Major League Baseball in the Pacific Northwest in 1995. That's reason to elect them to the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. The Baseball Hall of Fame has a higher standard. The Big Unit has made it, and, barring a shocking set of circumstances, Junior will make it when he becomes eligible next year. Edgar and Tino will never make it.

Alan Trammell: 138 votes, 25.1 percent. One of the best shortstops in baseball from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, but the only way he gets in is if the Hall brings back the only-used-once "multiple entry" standard. It was used for Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance. It can also be suggested that Don Drysdale didn't quite have the stats, and that the only reason he got in was to complete a dual entry with Sandy Koufax. Separately, Trammell and Lou Whitaker don't get in; together, with the impact they had, they could. (This could also be used to let in the Yankee pitching triad of Allie Reynolds, Eddie Lopat and Vic Raschi, not that I expect either event to happen.)

Mike Mussina: 135 votes, 24.6 percent. He won 270 games in the Five Man Rotation Era, despite being a righthanded pitcher in parks that were heavily titled toward lefthanded hitters: Camden Yards and the old Yankee Stadium. Come on, this should be a cinch. That he didn't get in this season, with 3 worthy first-timers and the already-denied easy case Biggio, is understandable. But not even 25 percent? That's a slap in the face to one of the best pitchers of a hitting-happy era.

Jeff Kent: 77 votes, 14.0 percent. He hit more home runs at the position of 2nd base than any player in history. And, again: Likability isn't supposed to be an issue. But his career home run total is 377; if that's all you got, then you need more stats. BA, .290; OPS+, 123; hits, 2,461; not enough. Doubles, 560, a good figure, but not enough to drag him over the line. All-Star berths, 5, also not enough to make a difference. Never renowned for his baserunning or his fielding. Reached the postseason with 4 different teams, but only 1 Pennant and no rings.

By the standards that Baseball-Reference.com uses (this post is already long enough, so I wont' get into those here), he should be in. But I don't see it. No, Kent doesn't get in.

Fred McGriff: 71 votes, 12.9 percent. He hit 493 home runs, as many as Lou Gehrig, and as far as anyone knows, he did it honestly. And he didn't even crack 13 percent? He, too, is paying for the sins of others. If he got the 7 more he needed for 500, would he be in? It shouldn't matter: He should be in.

Larry Walker: 65 votes, 11.8 percent. A tougher call than Edgar. BA, .313; OPS+, 141; home runs, 383; doubles, 471. And while he benefited from Coors Field in Denver, he also had to hit in the Montreal Olympic Stadium.

Now, in this era, 383 isn't a lot of home runs, but it's 1 more than Jim Rice, and he's in. And Walker was a better all-around player than Rice. He won 3 batting titles (peaking at .379 -- guys just haven't hit like that in the post-World War II era) and 7 Gold Gloves. He also won an MVP, which, unlike Rice, he deserved. (Rice hit 46 homers in 1978? Walker hit 49 in 1997. Rice had 406 total bases? Walker had 409. And Rice is basically in because of that one season, when Ron Guidry was the most valuable player any team has ever had for a single season, and should have gotten the award -- and he's not in the Hall.)

That said, 383 homers shouldn't, by itself, get you in. And Walker doesn't have the career hits (2,160) or the postseason success (only 1 Pennant, and the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals got swept by the Red Sox). But by the standards Baseball Reference uses, he should be in, and I agree.

Don Mattingly: 50 votes, 9.1 percent, 15th and last year on the ballot, so he's done. From 1984 to 1989, he was one of the 3 best players in baseball. From 1990 to 1995, he was just another good player. And then he was done. Having one-third of a career as an all-time great, one-third as less than that, and one-third not at all only works if you're as good as Sandy Koufax. Mattingly was not as good as Koufax. Perhaps the Veterans' Committee will put him in, once he becomes eligible for them.

Nomar Garciaparra: 30 votes, 5.5 percent. From 1997 to 2003, he sure looked like a future Hall-of-Famer: Who bats .372 as a righthanded hitter in the post-World War II era? But he just dropped off the map. A brief return to nice stats in 2006 didn't save him, he was only 34 when he was last a regular, and played his last game when he was 36.

BA, .313; OPS+, 124; hits, 1,747; homers, 229; batting titles, 2; All-Star berths, 6; Gold Gloves, none; baserunning, also not a boost; postseason berths, 5, with 3 different teams, but no Pennants -- indeed, the Red Sox didn't win a Pennant and a World Series until they got rid of him. No, Nomar doesn't make it to Cooperstown.

The following players, each in his 1st year on the ballot, got less than 5 percent of the vote, and will not be on next year's ballot:

Carlos Delgado: 21 votes, 3.8 percent. He hit 473 home runs, more than Carl Yastrzemski and Dave Winfield, and slightly less than Stan Musial and Willie Stargell, despite playing his entire career in pitchers' parks: 12 years at the SkyDome/Rogers Centre in Toronto, 1 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, 3 at Shea Stadium in New York and the last few games of his career at Shea's successor, Citi Field.

As far as we know, he was clean. Seems to be a nice guy. Anytime prior to the 1994 strike, without evidence of steroid use, 473 homers would have gotten you in. Since then, everybody's a suspect. (You'll notice that, in this rare year when 4 players got in via the BBWAA, 3 were pitchers.)

Troy Percival: 4 votes, 0.7 percent. For the moment, with Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, each League's all-time leader in saves, not yet eligible, we don't really know what gets a reliever in. There are currently 5 pitchers in based mainly on what they did as relievers -- not counting Smoltz, who's in mainly for what he did as a starter: Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage and Dennis Eckersley.

Eck has 390 saves, Fingers 341, Gossage 310, Sutter 300, Wilhelm 227. Percival has 358 saves, more than all of these except Eck. If we're talking combined wins plus saves, it's Eckersley 587, Fingers 455, Gossage 434, Percival 393, Wilhelm 370, Sutter 368. World Series rings: Fingers has 3, the rest, 1 each.

If it's about Percival having a career losing record, so does Fingers, and he wasn't kept out. Wilhelm can be explained by being the pioneer who really made relief pitching something to focus on. But if Sutter is in, why not Percival? Maybe he just wasn't great enough for long enough.

Aaron Boone and Tom Gordon: 2 votes, 0.4 percent. One home run, no matter how significant, does not get you into the Hall of Fame. And while Gordon was a very good relief pitcher, he was not a Hall-of-Fame quality player.

Darin Erstad: 1 vote, 0.2 percent. From 1997 to 2000, he was one of the best players in the game. But from 2001 to 2005, despite 2 Gold Gloves (at 2 different positions: Center field in 2002 and 1st base in 2004) and a ring (2002 Anaheim Angels), he was just another good player. And then, in 2005, at age 30, his stats dropped precipitously, and starting in 2006 he played far fewer games, due to injury. He played his last game at just 35. Throw in an outlier of a great season in 2000 (shades of Brady Anderson), and he sure looks like a steroid case. There's no serious charge against him, but he does fit the profile. Even if he didn't cheat, statistically, he's not close to Cooperstown worthiness.

Brian Giles, Jason Schmidt, Cliff Floyd, Jermaine Dye, Rich Aurilia, Tony Clark and Eddie Guardado: No votes, 0.0 percent. The only surprise here is that Dye got no votes. He hit 325 home runs, made the All-Star team twice, had 4 100+ RBI seasons, reached the postseason with 3 different teams, and won the 2005 World Series with the Chicago White Sox. That's not enough to make it, but he should have gotten at least a few votes.

UPDATE: Piazza was elected in 2016, Bagwell and Raines in 2017, Trammell in 2018; Smith, Martinez and Mussina in 2019. Everyone else mentioned here is still on the outside looking in.