It’s time to go back to the basics.
This Saturday, the greatest baseball players that ever lived will be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.
Included in the Best of the Era voting is a historic ballot, featuring the addition of five new members.
In the coming days, a leader board will be compiled to compare the updated Ballot to other ballots: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.
The Hall of Fame is comprised of approximately 600 Hall of Famers. What makes this ballot special is the number of first-time members and the jump in salary ranges from the Green Monster to Cooperstown.
First time: Plaque of a longtime star who failed to make the 10-man Final Vote but is nonetheless worthy of consideration for the Best of the Era (1986-present). Current MLB Players, coaches and managers. Selected by a complete panel of Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
Notable, added to the ballot: Dave Winfield, Al Kaline, Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Barry Larkin, Craig Biggio, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Alan Trammell, Steve Garvey, Pedro Martinez, Derek Jeter, David Wells, Scott Boras, Joe Morgan, Gil Hodges, Jimmy Key, Hank Aaron, Dave Parker, Gaylord Perry, Lee Smith, Eddie Murray, Ellis Burks, Dave Parker, Ken Griffey Jr., Curt Schilling, Robin Yount, Jim Rice, Billy Williams, Joe Torre, Tony Gwynn, Tony Gwynn, Mickey Mantle, Vic Wertz, Johnny Bench, Harmon Killebrew, Andres Galarraga, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt, Cal Ripken Jr., Ryan Zimmerman, Randy Johnson, Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Tim Raines, Frank Thomas, Pedro Martinez, Jeff Bagwell, Jim Thome, Babe Ruth, Wade Boggs, Dave Winfield, Hal McRae, Tony Perez, Fred McGriff, Vladimir Guerrero, Tony Gwynn, and Albert Pujols.
Lifer: Babe Ruth, Jim Palmer, Buck O’Neil, Roy Campanella, Dave Concepcion, Luis Tiant, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Robin Yount, Mike Schmidt, Bert Blyleven, Will Clark, Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Winfield, Al Kaline, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt, Ken Griffey Jr., Darryl Strawberry, Frank Thomas, Willie Mays, Billy Williams, Tommy Lasorda, Walter Johnson, Larry Walker, Juan Marichal, Nolan Ryan, Fred McGriff, Frank Thomas, Robin Yount, Jack Morris, Willie McCovey, Alan Trammell, Carl Yastrzemski, Dale Murphy, W. O. L. Mount, Catfish Hunter, Johnny Bench, Bob Gibson, Bob Gibson, Curt Flood, Earl Weaver, Bob Gibson, Ruth Roberts, Ernie Banks, Reggie Jackson, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Mathews, Joe Morgan, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Schmidt, Jim Thome, Babe Ruth, W. O. L. Mount, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Yogi Berra, Tony Gwynn, Mike Schmidt, Walt Hriniak, Hank Aaron, Bobby Thomson, Chipper Jones, Hal McRae, Eddie Murray, Dick Williams, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, George Brett, Paul Molitor, Rickey Henderson, Fred McGriff, Lou Brock, Rick Monday, Ryne Sandberg, Harold Baines, Moose Skowron, Tony Gwynn, Ruth Roberts, Arnie Major, Willie McGee, Cal Ripken Jr., Don Mattingly, Joe Morgan, Hank Aaron, Kirby Puckett, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Willie Mays, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, and Babe Ruth.
The BBWAA will announce the 80 Hall of Fame finalists on November 1, 2018, and the 75 inductees on January 22, 2019.
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