My 2023 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot (If I Were a BBWAA Member)

On Tuesday night, we will find out the results of the balloting of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) and see if anyone will join Fred McGriff in being part of the Class of 2023 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer in Cooperstown, New York. 

In order for a player to be inducted into Cooperstown, he must receive 75% of support from the BBWAA. Eligible voters may include up to 10 players on their ballot.

If I were a BBWAA member this would be my ballot for 2023:

1. Scott Rolen

2. Todd Helton 

3. Billy Wagner

4. Francisco Rodriguez

5. Andruw Jones

6. Jeff Kent

7. Jimmy Rollins

8. Torii Hunter

Six of the eight names were on my "ballot" a year ago. The new names on my ballot this year belong to Rodriguez and Rollins.

Rodriguez is in his first year of eligibility and his numbers are comparable to those of Wagner, the only other closer on this list. K-Rod and Wagner both pitched 16 seasons in the big leagues with K-Rod saving 437 games while Wagner saved 422. Wagner edges K-Rod in All-Star Game selections (7 to 6) but K-Rod thrice led the AL in saves and set the MLB single season record for saves with 62 in 2008 and earned a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002. 

This is Wagner's 8th year on the ballot having received 51% of the vote. I think Wagner will get in but probably won't get in until his final year of eligibility in 2025. In which case, K-Rod might have a long wait but can look forward to getting a plaque in Cooperstown.

Rollins is in his 2nd year on the ballot. I did not have a spot for him a year ago because of David Ortiz as well as it being the last year of eligibility for Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Curt Schilling. With Big Papi inducted his first year on the ballot and Clemens, Bonds and Schilling dropping off the ballot now gives Rollins room.

"J-Roll" spent 15 of his 17 big league seasons in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform and is among the greatest players to ever wear that uniform. Rollins is the Phillies all-time leader in hits (2,306) and doubles (479) and second in stolen bases (453) and third in runs scored (1,325) and in triples (111). Rollins is the only shortstop in MLB history with more than 200 career HR and 400 career stolen bases. Throw in four Gold Gloves, three NL All-Star Team appearances, a World Series ring and NL MVP honors and you've a very good case for Cooperstown. Granted, it might take Rollins until his final year of eligibility to get enshrined, but I think he'll get there.

The player most likely to be inducted this year is Scott Rolen who received 63.2% of the vote last year in his fifth year of eligibility. Rolen won 7 Gold Gloves at third base during his 17-year big league career. The only NL third basemen with more are Mike Schmidt and Nolan Arenado who are tied with 10 apiece. Brooks Robinson, of course, is the all-time MLB leader with 16. 

If Rolen doesn't get in this year, then I think next year will be his year when fellow third baseman Adrian Beltre becomes Hall of Fame eligible. Of the 17 third baseman in Cooperstown, only once did two go in the same time when Brooks Robinson and George Kell were both enshrined in 1983. 

The one player I feel sorry for is Jeff Kent who is in his final year of eligibility and will be lucky if he breaks 50% of the vote. His 351 HR (out of 377 for his career) are the most by a second baseman in MLB history and was a RBI machine driving in 100 or more runs in eight of nine seasons between 1997 and 2005. Perhaps the Contemporary Era Committee will look upon him more favorably as they did with Fred McGriff.