Voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2013 is underway, and we'll soon learn the names of men that have been deemed worthy by the BBWAA, the omniscient arbiters and experts of character judgment, medical science, child development, and sometimes even baseball.
Each winter, the voting process provides a steady stream of self-importance and pearl-clutching from mostly middle aged and wholly pious sportswriters. Equally reliable has been the reactionary uproar from the generally more sane and clear-headed humans who'd rather not penalize Jeff Bagwell for having been born in the late 1960s and being awesome at baseball.
This year's ballot, thanks to the inclusion of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling, has elicited even more attention and horror due to the candidates’ undeniable excellence on the field and probable scumbaggery off the field. Many believe that the first quality should matter more than the other, while (sadly) more will likely argue otherwise, and much digital ink and internet bandwidth will be spent over this debate.
I will not take part in such folly. Or will try very hard, anyway. Consider these fun facts that have been cherry-picked for emphasis from historical voting results of all 110 inductees (Big Table at the end):
- Nine believed Hank Aaron did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Sixteen believed Mike Schmidt did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Twenty believed Ted Williams did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Twenty-three believed Willie Mays did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Twenty-eight believed Rickey Henderson did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Forty-five believed Frank Robinson did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Fifty-two believed Sandy Koufax did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
- Eighty-one believed Joe Morgan did not belong in the Hall of Fame.
Logic, reason and objectivity have never been the primary factors in the BBWAA’s collective decision making process. I believe in logic, reason and objectivity. Seething with wrath over voting results of a group that cares little about these qualities will only bring anger and frustration.
I will not take part in such folly.
I will not take part in such folly.
I will not take part in such folly.
Happy New Year.
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Big Table
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| Year | Name | Votes | % of Ballots | Total | Not |
| 1999 | Nolan Ryan | 491 | 98.8% | 497 | 6 |
| 1992 | Tom Seaver | 425 | 98.8% | 430 | 5 |
| 2007 | Cal Ripken | 537 | 98.5% | 545 | 8 |
| 1999 | George Brett | 488 | 98.2% | 497 | 9 |
| 1936 | Ty Cobb | 222 | 98.2% | 226 | 4 |
| 1982 | Hank Aaron | 406 | 97.8% | 415 | 9 |
| 2007 | Tony Gwynn | 532 | 97.6% | 545 | 13 |
| 1995 | Mike Schmidt | 444 | 96.5% | 460 | 16 |
| 1989 | Johnny Bench | 431 | 96.4% | 447 | 16 |
| 1994 | Steve Carlton | 436 | 95.6% | 456 | 20 |
| 1936 | Babe Ruth | 215 | 95.1% | 226 | 11 |
| 1936 | Honus Wagner | 215 | 95.1% | 226 | 11 |
| 2009 | Rickey Henderson | 511 | 94.8% | 539 | 28 |
| 1979 | Willie Mays | 409 | 94.7% | 432 | 23 |
| 1989 | Carl Yastrzemski | 423 | 94.6% | 447 | 24 |
| 1964 | Luke Appling | 189 | 94.0% | 201 | 12 |
| 1962 | Bob Feller | 150 | 93.8% | 160 | 10 |
| 1993 | Reggie Jackson | 396 | 93.6% | 423 | 27 |
| 1966 | Ted Williams | 282 | 93.4% | 302 | 20 |
| 1969 | Stan Musial | 317 | 93.2% | 340 | 23 |
| 1990 | Jim Palmer | 411 | 92.6% | 444 | 33 |
| 1983 | Brooks Robinson | 344 | 92.0% | 374 | 30 |
| 2005 | Wade Boggs | 474 | 91.9% | 516 | 42 |
| 2002 | Ozzie Smith | 433 | 91.7% | 472 | 39 |
| 1936 | Christy Mathewson | 205 | 90.7% | 226 | 21 |
| 1991 | Rod Carew | 401 | 90.5% | 443 | 42 |
| 2011 | Roberto Alomar | 523 | 90.0% | 581 | 58 |
| 1982 | Frank Robinson | 370 | 89.2% | 415 | 45 |
| 1955 | Joe DiMaggio | 223 | 88.8% | 251 | 28 |
| 1980 | Al Kaline | 340 | 88.3% | 385 | 45 |
| 1974 | Mickey Mantle | 322 | 88.2% | 365 | 43 |
| 1951 | Mel Ott | 197 | 87.2% | 226 | 29 |
| 1947 | Carl Hubbell | 140 | 87.0% | 161 | 21 |
| 1972 | Sandy Koufax | 344 | 86.9% | 396 | 52 |
| 1976 | Robin Roberts | 337 | 86.9% | 388 | 51 |
| 1967 | Red Ruffing | 266 | 86.9% | 306 | 40 |
| 1952 | Harry Heilmann | 203 | 86.8% | 234 | 31 |
| 1980 | Duke Snider | 333 | 86.5% | 385 | 52 |
| 1955 | Ted Lyons | 217 | 86.5% | 251 | 34 |
| 2012 | Barry Larkin | 495 | 86.4% | 573 | 78 |
| 2008 | Rich Gossage | 466 | 85.8% | 543 | 77 |
| 1939 | George Sisler | 235 | 85.8% | 274 | 39 |
| 1987 | Billy Williams | 354 | 85.7% | 413 | 59 |
| 1972 | Yogi Berra | 339 | 85.6% | 396 | 57 |
| 2003 | Eddie Murray | 423 | 85.3% | 496 | 73 |
| 2004 | Paul Molitor | 431 | 85.2% | 506 | 75 |
| 1956 | Hank Greenberg | 164 | 85.0% | 193 | 29 |
| 1949 | Charlie Gehringer | 159 | 85.0% | 187 | 28 |
| 1968 | Joe Medwick | 240 | 84.8% | 283 | 43 |
| 1984 | Luis Aparicio | 341 | 84.6% | 403 | 62 |
| 2001 | Dave Winfield | 435 | 84.5% | 515 | 80 |
| 1947 | Frankie Frisch | 136 | 84.5% | 161 | 25 |
| 1981 | Bob Gibson | 337 | 84.0% | 401 | 64 |
| 1985 | Hoyt Wilhelm | 331 | 83.8% | 395 | 64 |
| 1977 | Ernie Banks | 321 | 83.8% | 383 | 62 |
| 1983 | Juan Marichal | 313 | 83.7% | 374 | 61 |
| 1936 | Walter Johnson | 189 | 83.6% | 226 | 37 |
| 1937 | Nap Lajoie | 168 | 83.6% | 201 | 33 |
| 1952 | Paul Waner | 195 | 83.3% | 234 | 39 |
| 2004 | Dennis Eckersley | 421 | 83.2% | 506 | 85 |
| 1973 | Warren Spahn | 316 | 83.2% | 380 | 64 |
| 1984 | Harmon Killebrew | 335 | 83.1% | 403 | 68 |
| 1954 | Rabbit Maranville | 209 | 82.9% | 252 | 43 |
| 1988 | Willie Stargell | 352 | 82.4% | 427 | 75 |
| 2001 | Kirby Puckett | 423 | 82.1% | 515 | 92 |
| 1937 | Tris Speaker | 165 | 82.1% | 201 | 36 |
| 1990 | Joe Morgan | 363 | 81.8% | 444 | 81 |
| 1955 | Dazzy Vance | 205 | 81.7% | 251 | 46 |
| 1998 | Don Sutton | 386 | 81.6% | 473 | 87 |
| 1986 | Willie McCovey | 346 | 81.4% | 425 | 79 |
| 1992 | Rollie Fingers | 349 | 81.2% | 430 | 81 |
| 1938 | Pete Alexander | 212 | 80.9% | 262 | 50 |
| 1997 | Phil Niekro | 380 | 80.3% | 473 | 93 |
| 1954 | Bill Dickey | 202 | 80.2% | 252 | 50 |
| 2011 | Bert Blyleven | 463 | 79.7% | 581 | 118 |
| 1985 | Lou Brock | 315 | 79.7% | 395 | 80 |
| 2000 | Carlton Fisk | 397 | 79.6% | 499 | 102 |
| 1947 | Mickey Cochrane | 128 | 79.5% | 161 | 33 |
| 1978 | Eddie Mathews | 301 | 79.4% | 379 | 78 |
| 1969 | Roy Campanella | 270 | 79.4% | 340 | 70 |
| 1953 | Dizzy Dean | 209 | 79.2% | 264 | 55 |
| 1951 | Jimmie Foxx | 179 | 79.2% | 226 | 47 |
| 1956 | Joe Cronin | 152 | 78.8% | 193 | 41 |
| 1976 | Bob Lemon | 305 | 78.6% | 388 | 83 |
| 1984 | Don Drysdale | 316 | 78.4% | 403 | 87 |
| 1942 | Rogers Hornsby | 182 | 78.1% | 233 | 51 |
| 2003 | Gary Carter | 387 | 78.0% | 496 | 109 |
| 2010 | Andre Dawson | 420 | 77.9% | 539 | 119 |
| 1974 | Whitey Ford | 284 | 77.8% | 365 | 81 |
| 1939 | Eddie Collins | 213 | 77.7% | 274 | 61 |
| 1955 | Gabby Hartnett | 195 | 77.7% | 251 | 56 |
| 1948 | Herb Pennock | 94 | 77.7% | 121 | 27 |
| 1999 | Robin Yount | 385 | 77.5% | 497 | 112 |
| 1962 | Jackie Robinson | 124 | 77.5% | 160 | 36 |
| 1954 | Bill Terry | 195 | 77.4% | 252 | 57 |
| 1970 | Lou Boudreau | 232 | 77.3% | 300 | 68 |
| 2000 | Tony Perez | 385 | 77.2% | 499 | 114 |
| 1991 | Gaylord Perry | 342 | 77.2% | 443 | 101 |
| 2006 | Bruce Sutter | 400 | 76.9% | 520 | 120 |
| 1948 | Pie Traynor | 93 | 76.9% | 121 | 28 |
| 2009 | Jim Rice | 412 | 76.4% | 539 | 127 |
| 1947 | Lefty Grove | 123 | 76.4% | 161 | 38 |
| 1987 | Catfish Hunter | 315 | 76.3% | 413 | 98 |
| 2005 | Ryne Sandberg | 393 | 76.2% | 516 | 123 |
| 1937 | Cy Young | 153 | 76.1% | 201 | 48 |
| 1972 | Early Wynn | 301 | 76.0% | 396 | 95 |
| 1939 | Willie Keeler | 207 | 75.5% | 274 | 67 |
| 1991 | Fergie Jenkins | 334 | 75.4% | 443 | 109 |
| 1975 | Ralph Kiner | 273 | 75.4% | 362 | 89 |
| 1953 | Al Simmons | 199 | 75.4% | 264 | 65 |
