It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since the Baseball Writers Association of America fell on their swords. The date was January 9, 2013 when the supposed best baseball writers in the business couldn’t pick even one eligible candidate to be enshrined into the sacred Halls of Cooperstown – not one. Snubbed were first-timers Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza and returning candidates Bert Blyleven Jack Morris, Dale Murphy and Lee Smith to name only a few. Yet in the BBWAA’s infinite “I’ll show you” wisdom, they not only tried to punished many well-deserving Hall of Fame candidates but also disrespected the greatest game on Earth; and in doing so made complete fools out of themselves.

The justification by a number of BBWAA writers was that the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot was the first to include candidates from the so-called ‘the steroid era’ – names like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Sammy Sosa and a few other known PED users. And while it is perfectly understandable and acceptable that these cheaters were not and perhaps will never be voted into the Hall of Fame, how, in good conscience, could the BBWAA not select even one of the well-deserving existing non-PED users on the ballot? It was a disgrace and brought shame to the (then) 108-year-old writers association.

The inability of the BBWAA to select even one player into the Hall of Fame in 2013 was inexcusable and a huge blow to the association’s long-standing credibility. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But that was then and this is now, and if ever the BBWAA were given a golden opportunity to redeem themselves, this is it. On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, the BBWAA will announce their selections for the Hall of Fame Class of 2015. The announcement will be aired live on MLB Network at 11 a.m. (PT).

Although many of the admitted and/or highly suspected PED users are still on the Hall of Fame ballot for the Class of 2015, there is an abundance of first-time candidates who were never linked or even suspected of PED use, including some of the greatest to ever play the game. And while guys like Bonds, Clemons, Sosa and McGwire will most likely again be snubbed by the BBWAA (and rightfully so), guys like Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield  and Nomar Garciaparra could quite possibly make up the first group of four eligible candidates to receive the 75% of votes required for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame since the class of 1947 (Mickey Cochrane, Frankie Frisch, Lefty Grove and Carl Hubbell).

The Hall of Fame Class of 2015 could see the largest number of inductees since 1947. when the BBWAA voted in four former players – the most since the inaugural Class of 1936. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Even if four potential candidates do not make the cut, it would be a shock (and an absolute travesty) if the BBWAA couldn’t agree upon three well-deserving candidates for the Hall of Fame Class of 2015.

Come on BBWAA – don’t screw this up… again.