2003 BBWAA Hall of Fame (MT)

[Max Power]

[KCBoomer - as requested, here's the ballot thread.]

The following sample ballot contains the names of the 33 candidates who are eligible for election in 2003 to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, via the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) election.

You may vote for a maximum of 10 candidates. All candidates selected on at least 75% of the ballots cast will be "elected. "

Who are your picks?

The results of the voting here will be determined on 1/7/03.

Bert Blyleven
Brett Butler
Gary Carter
Vince Coleman
Dave Concepcion
Darren Daulton
Mark Davis
Andre Dawson
Sid Fernandez
Steve Garvey
Rich Gossage
Keith Hernandez
Rick Honeycutt
Danny Jackson
Tommy John
Jim Kaat
Darryl Kile
Don Mattingly
Jack Morris
Dale Murphy
Eddie Murray
Dave Parker
Tony Pena
Jim Rice
Ryne Sandberg
Lee Smith
Bruce Sutter
Danny Tartabull
Mickey Tettleton
Alan Trammell
F. Valenzuela
Mitch Williams
Todd Worrell

[penguin12]

My votes go to:

Gary Carter
Andre Dawson
Jack Morris
Eddie Murray
Ryne Sandberg
Lee Smith
Bruce Sutter --- Time to honor a couple relief pitchers
and Alan Trammell (far better numbers than Ozzie Smith)

[Max Power]

Based on what Cooperstown looks for, there are who I would vote for:

Bert Blyleven
Gary Carter
Andre Dawson
Rich Gossage
Tommy John
Jim Kaat
Eddie Murray
Ryne Sandberg

[BigJon]

I would vote for the following (using my own criterion):

Gary Carter
Andre Dawson
Rich Gossage
Jack Morris
Eddie Murray
Jim Rice

[hugenymetsfan]

Here are my choices in order:
Eddie Murray
Ryne Sandberg
Gary Carter
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Jim Rice
Jack Morris

I feel that Murray and Sandberg are very deserving while Carter is good enough to belong. The other four fellas are on the cusp, but Hell, they are better than a lot of other members in there already.

"Clear the mechanism." Billy Chapel from For Love of the Game

Blyleven
Carter
Gossage
Morris
Murray
Sandberg
Trammell

[WiredTiger]

Bert Blyleven
Gary Carter
Rich Gossage
Eddie Murray
Ryne Sandberg
Alan Trammell (If you vote Sandberg in then it is very hard to make an arguement against Trammell.)

[SmedIndy]

Murray
Blyleven
Carter
Gossage
Kaat
Trammell

No to Sandberg - unless Sweet Lou is reinstated.

[Jim Rice]

In order:

Eddie Murray
Gary Carter
Ryne Sandberg
Alan Trammell
Rich Gossage
Jim Rice
Andre Dawson
Dave Parker
Bert Blyleven

The top 4 on that list should be self-explanatory - each is among the top-ten all-time at their position. In a way, the same could be said of Gossage, whose longevity AND ability to pitch two-to-three innings each outing separates him from the Sutter-Smith couplet. My case for Rice is long and (I think) well-documentd, so I won't go into detail here - a fact for which I'm sure you are all grateful. As I've said before, I'll continue to vote for Dawson and Parker until someone un-elects that bottom half of the HOF right fielder class, none of whom could hold a candle to either of these guys. And, finally, I'm on the "thumbs-up" cycle of my annual internal Bert Blyleven debate.

I never have, and never will, support the candidacies of Garvey, Murphy, Sutter (who is almost EXACTLY the same pitcher as Dan Quisenberry, he of the 18 total votes), Mattingly, Kaat, John, Concepcion, or Valenzuela. I have waffled on Keith Hernandez in the past, largely because he's better than a lot of the first basemen who are already in, but the gap there isn't nearly as large as it is in the right field situation described above. Other than Highpockets Kelly, I really can't point to any of the HOF first base group and say that Hernandez was significantly better than them, so ultimately I've decided he doesn't get my vote.

[Skip]

In order:
Murray
Carter
Blyleven

Because I'm a first ballot snob, I won't vote for him till next year:
Ryno

Close calls:
Dawson
Trammell
Gossage

Better cases than the rest:
Murphy
Parker
Rice

That's 10, right? Hard counting through my OSU hangover right now.

[clemente21]

Danny Jackson
Sid Fernandez
Mark Davis

Oh, I'm sorry, wrong poll...

Eddie Murray
Ryne Sandberg
Gary Carter
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
Rich Gossage

Gary Carter
Eddie Murray
Ryne Sandberg
Goose Gossage
Alan Trammell
Bert Blyleven
Keith Hernandez
Dave Parker
Jim Rice
Andre Dawson

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
No to Sandberg - unless Sweet Lou is reinstated.

I like the way you think. Not sure why Sandberg is so much more regarded than Trammell or Whitaker.

[Doc Pontoon]

In order of deservingness (just to start fights):

Eddie Murray
Gary Carter
Richard "Goose" Gossage
Ryne Sandberg
Bert Blyleven
Alan Trammell
Lee Smith

[Old Judge]

Hi Guys!

Thought I'd pitch in my two cents for:

Blyleven
Carter
Murphy
Murray
Sandberg
Sutter
Trammell

I struggle a little with the question of relievers. I happen to think that being chosen as a closer is the same as being given many gifts (called save opportunities) throughout the season. So when I look at save totals it doesn't always mean a lot to me. On the other hand, a truly dominant closer can be a huge plus to a team which finds itself in many close games. I chose Bruce Sutter because he was so dominant for several years (as I remember), while Gossage and Smith were very good for many years. Tough one though. Now, when Rivera is on the ballot...