This is not going to be a long drawn out dissertation about the how bad the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) have been when it comes to their Hall of Fame selections – Heaven knows I don’t need to point out their shortcomings when they’ve been perfectly capable of doing it themselves. (Yes, I’m still bitter that they didn’t vote anyone in last year).

To be fair, the BBWAA has, for the most part, done exceptionally well in their Hall of Fame selections over the years – 2013 notwithstanding. But if ever there was an opportunity for redemption from their complete meltdown last year, the 2014 Hall of Fame ballot is it – at least it better be.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing more overwhelming for a true baseball fan than walking through the National Baseball Hall of Fame. (Ron Cervenka – ThinkBlueLA.com)

The BBWAA has had five years to think about the fact that the Class of 2014 not only includes some of the best players of our generation, but some of the best who have ever played the game – especially pitchers.

Because of the way the game is played today and because of today’s specialized bullpen roles, it is highly unlikely that we will ever again see a 300-game winner, yet there are two of them on this year’s HOF ballot – Greg Maddux (355) and Tom Glavine (305). And though Randy Johnson and his 303 career wins will probably make him a first-ballot shoo-in next year, after him there are very few active pitchers who have a legitimate shot at 300 career wins – although it’s a bit premature to rule out CC Sabathia with his 205 wins at age 32 or even Clayton Kershaw with his 77 wins at age 25.

And then, of course, there are the first ballot hitters – guys like Frank Thomas, Richie Sexson, Sean Casey and even Jeff Kent, not to mention the many returning guys like Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza (who both should have been voted in last year) and veteran HOF ballot guys like Jack Morris, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.

Cooperstown’s tiny population of 1,833 grew to over 82,000 during induction weekend 2007 when Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Thanks to the BBWAA, last year’s attendance was around 2,500. Imagine what that did to Cooperstown’s local economy.
(Ron Cervenka – ThinkBlueLA.com)

The point here is that never before (in recent years, at least) has there been a more deserving group of first ballot guys for enshrinement into the sacred halls of Cooperstown than the Class of 2014.

Even the BBWAA can’t screw this one up, right?

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For the Record

IBWAA

As a voting member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA), I voted for the following guys for enshrinement into the IBWAA Hall of Fame (listed alphabetically):

• Craig Biggio
• Tom Glavine
• Barry Larkin (voted into the BBWAA HOF in 2012 but not the IBWAA HOF)
• Greg Maddux
• Edgar Martinez
• Jack Morris
• Tim Raines
• Lee Smith
• Frank Thomas
• Alan Trammell

(Note: Mike Piazza was voted into the IBWAA HOF in 2013 but not the BBWAA HOF)