My Ten Picks for Cooperstown's Class of 2017 UPDATE

At 6 p.m. EST, the results of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) 2017 Hall of Fame Ballot will be announced. In order to get enshrined, a player needs to get at least 75% of the vote. An individual player can remain on the ballot for 10 seasons provided they maintain a minimum of 5% of the vote (it used to be 15 years). If a player fails to obtain 75% during the 10th year on the ballot then they can be considered for induction by the Veterans Committee. BBWAA members can vote for up to ten players. The last couple of years at The American Spectator I put forward my own ballot.


It is a tradition I wish to maintain. So without further adieu here are my ten picks for Cooperstown's class of 2017:


Tim Raines - This is his final year on the ballot and support has been growing for him every year. In 2016, he obtained just under 70% of the vote. With Rickey Henderson's 1,437 stolen bases, it's easy to overlook Raines' 808. He was one of the most dominant players of the 1980's during his tenure with the Montreal Expos leading the NL in stolen bases four consecutive years and stealing 70 or more bases six straight seasons. Throw in seven NL All-Star appearances and a NL batting title and you have someone worthy of a plaque in Cooperstown.


Jeff Bagwell - In 2016, Bagwell fell just shy of the required 75% to get into Cooperstown (71.6%). Bagwell ought to have been inducted with his Houston Astros teammate Craig Biggio in 2015. Unfortunately, Bagwell has been maligned with accusations of PED use even though there isn't a hint of evidence against him. There is ample evidence of his offensive production. Thrice he led the NL in runs scored, drove in 100 or more runs seven times and also walked 100 or more times in seven different seasons finishing with an OBP of .408. Throw in a NL Rookie of the Year in 1991, NL MVP in 1994, a Gold Glove and four NL All-Star appearances and you have one of the two greatest players in Houston Astros history and worthy member of the Hall of Fame.


Trevor Hoffman - In his first year on the BBWAA ballot in 2016, Hoffman drew 67.3% of the vote. He is the greatest closer in NL history with 601 career saves, mostly with the San Diego Padres. The BBWAA can't keep him out much longer.


Lee Smith - The same cannot be said for Lee Smith who is in his 15th and final year of eligibility (when the BBWAA lowered the eligibility period from 15 to 10 years, Smith was grandfathered). Despite the fact that he and Hoffman are the only two closers to save 200 or more games in two different decades, Smith will be lucky if he breaks 40% of the ballot (he received 34.1% in 2016). His 478 saves surely count for something. Perhaps the Veterans Committee will give him the respect he deserves.


Curt Schilling - In 2016, Curt Schilling received 52.3% of the BBWAA vote in his fourth year on the ballot. That total is likely to go down despite the fact he is still the man who earned three World Series rings, 3,000 plus strikeouts, 200 plus wins and led the NL in complete games four times. His various social media controversies not only rankled the sports media's liberal pieties but cost him his gig at ESPN. The fact that Schilling was vocal supporter of Donald Trump won't help matters. Of course, that shouldn't matter. He belongs in Cooperstown.


Fred McGriff - Despite being one of the most feared sluggers in the 1990's and early 2000's, the Crime Dog struggles to get 20% of the vote. That total is not likely to improve in his 8th year on the ballot. McGriff finished his career with 493 career home runs. If not for the 1994 Players' Strike, McGriff would surely be a member of the 500 club and have a plaque in Cooperstown. Seven home runs should not keep him out.


Jeff Kent - This is another player who gets very little respect despite being the greatest second baseman to ever swing a bat. Despite 377 home runs and 8 100 plus RBI seasons, Kent only garnered 16.6% of the vote in his third year on the ballot. Kent was never popular with the media. It would be a shame if this kept him out of Cooperstown.


Larry Walker - It is a mystery to me why a player of Walker's caliber couldn't manage more than 15.5% of the vote in his sixth year on the ballot. Three NL batting titles and seven Gold Gloves demonstrate Walker could get it done with both the bat and the glove. That he did the bulk of this with the Colorado Rockies shouldn't be held against him.


Mike Mussina - This is the first time I've included The Moose on my ballot. In 18 seasons, Mussina compiled a 270-153 record with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees for a solid .638 career winning percentage. He was the best AL pitcher of the 1990's and 2000's never to win a Cy Young Award. To the shock of many, he retired after the 2008 season after posting his only 20 win season. Had he pitched two or three more season he would have likely reached both 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. Honestly his career is good enough without these achievements to warrant enshrinement. It won't happen in 2017, but I do think he will improve on the 43% of the vote he got in his third year of eligibility last year.


Vladimir Guerrero - The man could plain hit. Guerrero batted .300 or better in 13 seasons, drove in 100 or more runs in 10 seasons, earned 9 All-Star selections (4 in the NL and 5 in the AL) and won the 2004 AL MVP. He might not get in during his first year of eligibility, but I cannot see the BBWAA excluding him for very long.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez!!! Read my thoughts here.