PTST Writers Share MLB Hall Of Fame Ballots

With the announcement of who the eligible players will be for the Baseball Hall of Fame, we decided to share our own ballots.

The ballot has listed 32 former players this year. A voting percentage of at least 75 percent will get you enshrined for all glory. Bobby Abreu, Josh Beckett, Heath Bell, Barry Bonds, Eric Chávez, Roger Clemens, Adam Dunn, Chone Figgins, Rafael Furcal, Jason Giambi, Todd Helton, Raúl Ibañez, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, Paul Konerko, Cliff Lee, Carlos Peña, Brad Penny, Andy Pettitte, J.J. Putz, Manny Ramírez, Brian Roberts, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Alfonso Soriano, Sammy Sosa, José Valverde, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, Larry Walker are all eligible for induction.

Kyle Porch’s Ballot

Derek Jeter, Curt Schilling, Bobby Abreu, Larry Walker, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones, Andy Petitte, Manny Ramirez, Cliff Lee, and Carlos Pena

I had to use all 10 of my votes for this year’s class. It always made me so mad when the voters only used a vote or two. So, I used as many as I could justify. This class is loaded with talent. I refuse to elect Bonds or Clemens in without seeing other PED users in Cooperstown such as Sosa, and McGuire. Manny Ramirez is arguably the greatest power hitter in baseball history, and who doesn’t remember his presence in the lineup? Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones set the bar for outfield excellence during their respected eras, and Andy Petitte and Cliff Lee were dominant on the bump. But for the love of God, can we get Pete Rose on the ballot?

Joe Heller’s Ballot

Derek Jeter, Paul Konerko, Omar Vizquel, Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Andruw Jones, Todd Helton, Larry Walker, and Adam Dunn

Danny Podolsky’s Ballot

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens

Here’s the way I see it: steroids or not, Barry Bonds was the greatest hitter, and Roger Clemens was the greatest pitcher of the late ’90s and early 2000s. It’s a well-known fact that players who have already made the hall of fame did use steroids. They just never got caught doing so. Did Ken Griffey, Jr. use steroids? I’d love to believe he didn’t. He was never caught. However, there’s no way to prove he didn’t. Therefore, the way I see it, Bonds and Clemens, the greatest hitter and pitcher, need to make it before anyone else can. Does Derek Jeter deserve to get in? Certainly. But not before the two best players from the era, who have been wrongfully snubbed for years, get in. The voting shouldn’t come down to who got caught and who didn’t get caught. Mariano Rivera was the only exception to this last year because he was the greatest reliever of his decade. Once Bonds and Clemens get in, other players from that era can, as well. This clip of Eric Byrnes of MLB Network shows everything I believe in in terms of HOF voting.

Ryan Potts’s Ballot

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Andy Petitte, Manny Ramirez, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, and Larry Walker

Unlike some voters who only use a couple spots, I decided to fill my ballot with 10 worthy contenders. Derek Jeter, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Larry Walker should be shoo-ins on every ballot, but beyond that decisions had to be made. Andruw Jones and Scott Rolen are two elite-level fielders who posted good batting numbers for a decade: they are in. Curt Schilling is one of the best playoff pitchers of all-time: he’s in. Andy Pettitte had longevity and five rings. Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa are two of the greatest power hitters of all-time and desire enshrinement.

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Aaron Hubert’s Ballot

Curt Schilling played 19 years in the majors for five separate clubs. He was a six-time All-Star, top four Cy Young finalist four times, three-time World Series champion (one with the Diamondbacks and two with the Red Sox), and World Series MVP (2001). His memorable baseball moment that sticks out most for me was his Game 6 pitching against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS after falling behind 3-0, dubbed the Bloody Sock game. He boasted an 11-2 career postseason pitching record. Roger Clemens played 24 seasons in the MLB for four different clubs. The seven-time Cy Young winner, 11-time All-Star, 1986 AL MVP, two-time World Series-winning pitcher had a 65 percent win percentage in his career. This steroid era player deserves to be in the Hall. Barry Bonds, one of the absolute best players of all time, lived and participated in the steroid era, but he’s baseball royalty. Everyone has a Barry Bonds memory, and he delivered some of the most miraculous seasons in baseball history yet to be matched. The 14-time All-Star, seven-time MVP, eight-time Gold Glover, and 12-time Silver Slugger was part of the World Series-losing Giants roster in 2002. He is also the all-time leader in home runs, total walks, and intentional walks. Larry Walker had a 17-year career, of which he spent eight years as a Colorado Rockie, part of the Blake Street Bomber years in the Colorado Rockies’ infancy as a club. He lost a world series as part of the 2004 Cardinals roster that lost to the Red Sox. He’s a five-time All-Star, MVP in 1997, seven-time Golden Glove winner, and three-time Silver Slugger. Manny Ramirez had a 19-year playing career with five separate clubs. He was an 11-time All-Star and top 10 MVP voting finisher in more than half of his playing years. He never won an MVP but was constantly in the conversation. He won the 2004 and 2007 World Series with the Red Sox, taking home MVP in 2004 and 2007. He had 29 postseason home runs and 78 postseason RBI, and was a great player on some great teams. Todd Helton had a 17-year career with the Colorado Rockies. The five-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, and three-time Golden Glove first baseman dedicated his career to the Colorado Rockies and helped build a winning culture and leading by example. He led the “Todd and the Toddlers” 2007 Rockies to the World Series and gave the Colorado faithful “Rocktober,” where they won 21 of 22 games to make the Wild Card game, then swept their way to the World Series where they would eventually be swept by the Red Sox. Lastly, Sammy Sosa had an 18-year MLB career with five separate clubs, most memorably the Chicago Cubs. He was a seven-time All-Star, seven-time top 10 finalist for MVP voting, MVP (1998), and six-time Silver Slugger.

Yehuda Schwartz’s Ballot 

Curt Schilling, Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, Todd Helton, Andy Petitte, and Andruw Jones

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