Gossage to the HOF

by Rev Halofan on Jan 8, 2008 11:17 AM PST in Angels News

Goose Gossage alone was voted into Cooperstown today. He received 466 votes, 85+%

75% is required and Jim Rice fell just 16 votes shy of that with 72+% of the vote. Andre Dawson saw a big gain and wound up with just under 66% of the vote.

Big news is Bert Blyleven's surge to 61% of the vote - the momentum of Rice, Dawson and the Dutchman reflects previous inductees who took a longer route to Cooperstown.

Dave Concepcion received 16% of the vote in his 15th and final HOF ballot appearance.

Pitchers Lee Smith and Jack Morris were at 5th and 6th place, each with around 43%.

Also returning on next year's ballot will be:
Tommy John (29%)
Tim Raines (24% - the only new name on the ballot who made the 5% minimum votes cut)
Mark McGwire (23% - down a smidgen from last year's 25%)
Alan Trammel (18%)
Don Mattingly (15%)
Dave Parker (15%)
Dale Murphy (13%)
Harold Baines (5.2%)

Chuck Finley got ONE vote.

Next Year's ballot additions will include:

David Cone
Ron Gant
Joe Girardi
Rickey Henderson
Charles Nagy
Denny Neagle
Jesse Orosco
Dean Palmer
Dan Plesac
Luis Sojo
Greg Vaughn
Mo Vaughn
Matt Williams

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Rock Raines

deserves to be in; it's criminal that only about 1/4 of the voters recognize this.

Realize that Raines: led the National League in singles, doubles, triples and walks from 1982 through 1988; was the only player in history to steal at least 70 bases six years in a row; stole 808 bases for his career while compiling the best SB percentage of all time; is one of only two players in history with 500 stolen bases, 150 homers and a career OBP over .375 (Barry Bonds); reached base more times (3,977) than Tony Gwynn, Honus Wagner, Lou Brock, Roberto or Richie Ashburn. No HOF-eligible player who reached base as many times as Raines did and had as high an on-base percentage (.385) who isn't in the Hall.

The case for Blyleven has been made so many times I won't bother repeating it; suffice to say that he belongs.

by jjackflash on Jan 8, 2008 12:00 PM PST reply actions

Agree on Raines

Tim Raines will get in eventually - the writers have attitude when it comes to the notion of a first ballot Hall of Famer versus the other deserving players.

by Rev Halofan on Jan 8, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions