Posted in: MLB, TV | Tagged: Atlanta Braves, barry bonds, baseball hall of fame, carlos zambrano, chipper jones, chris carpenter, cleveland indians, edgar martinez, hideki matsui, jamie moyer, jim thome, johan santana, johnny damon, kerry wood, livan hernandez, mike mussina, MLB, mlb network, omar vizquel, roger clemens, trevor hoffman, vladimir guerrero

Baseball Hall Of Fame Ballot For 2018 Includes Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, More

Baseball Hall of Fame ballots for 2018 are being sent to BBWAA (Baseball Writers' Association of America) members this week. Joining the ballot this year are some top names from Cy Young awards winners to World Series MVP's to Home Run Kings.

The new nominees join holdovers for last year trying to reach immortality. To make it into the Hall, you need to appear on 75% or more of the ballots cast.

New to the ballot this year are three players that if they do not make it this year, they will soon. The sure thing from this years new group is long-time Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. An MVP in 1998, he is the only switch hitter in baseball history to post a carreer batting average over .300, slugging percentage over .500, and .400 percent on-base average. He was an 8-time All-Star, with 2,726 hits, 468 Home Runs, and 1,623 RBI's over a 19 season career.

Two former Cleveland Indians greats also join the ballot next year. Jim Thome was one of the most feared hitters of the 90's. The left-handed slugger mashed 612 homers in his 22-year runs with eight clubs, most notably the Tribe, Phillies, and White Sox. That is the eighth most home-runs in history. His swing was one of the most violent in baseball history, and he was elected to 5 All-Star games. HIs 90's Tribe teammate Omar Vizquel makes the ballot, and his case is based on fielding. He has played more games at shortstop than anyone else (2,709), and posted a .985 fielding percentage at the position over a 24 year career, tied for the highest of all-time. He won 11 Gold Gloves as a shortstop, including 9 in a row from 1993-2001. He is the all-time games played leader, and owns the record for most consecutive games played without an error with Cal Ripken Jr. (95)

Some of the pitchers up for the Hall for the first time this year include Kerry Wood, Chris Carpenter, Johan Santana, Jamie Moyer, and Carlos Zambrano. Between them, Moyer, Carpenter, and Santana all won Cy Young awards (Santana winning two). World Series heroes Hideki Matsui, Livan Hernandez, and Johnny Damon are also there.

They join holdovers who did not receive enough ballots last year. Pitcher Trevor Hoffman fell only five votes short of election last year-expect his name to be called.  Vladimir Guerrero, another outstanding hitter, fell 15 votes short. He should get in as well. Others who received more than 50% of the vote last year looking to gain votes or get in include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Edgar Martinez, and Mike Mussina. Players stay on the ballot for ten years as long as they get at least 5% of the vote.

If I had a ballot, Trevor Hoffman, Vladmir Guerrero, Chipper Jones, Omar Vizquel, Jim Thome, and Edgar Martinez would all have their names called.

The results will be broadcast live on the MLB Network on January 24th.

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