The 2007 class for the Baseball Hall of Fame was announced today with Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn being elected. Cal Ripken received 98.5% (537 votes) of the vote and Tony Gwynn received 97.6% (532 votes) of the National Baseball Writer’s vote. 409 votes were needed for election. Rich “Goose” Gossage fell just 21 votes (388, 71.2%) short. Two others, Jim Rice, 346 (63.5%), and Andre Dawson, 309 (56.7%) garnered over 50% of the vote.
Ripken’s total was the highest in the Hall of Fame voting history for position players. Both Gwynn and Ripken were elected in their first year on the ballot. Of the 15 first timers on the ballot besides Gwynn and Ripken, only two others received enough votes to stay on the ballot. To stay eligible for up to 15 years, the players had to receive 5% (28 votes). Those two players who retain their eligibility are Mark McGwire, 128 votes (23.5%), and Harold Baines, 29 votes (5.3%).
Steve Garvey, who was in his 15th and final year of eligibility, received 21.1% of the vote and will no longer be voted for. Those first timers who didn’t receive enough votes to stay on the ballot (5%) are Orel Hershiser, Albert Belle, Paul O’Neill, Bret Saberhagen, Jose Canseco, Tony Fernandez, Dante Bichette, Eric Davis, Bobby Bonilla, Ken Caminiti, Jay Buhner, Scott Brosius, Devon White, and Bobby Witt.
The following players will be heldover on the ballot for next year’s voting: Bert Blyleven (47.7%), Lee Smith (39.8%), Jack Morris (37.1%), Tommy John (22.9%), Dave Concepcion (13.6%), Alan Trammell (13.4%), Dave Parker (11.4%), Don Mattingly (9.9%) and Dale Murphy (9.2%).
To me it’s a shame that Jim Rice isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Maybe they should start letting bloggers have a vote. My congratulations go out to Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn. They will be inducted on July 30th, 2007.
Technorati: National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Mark McGwire
