[BJWilliams]

Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice (on his last try) and Joe Gordon (Vets Committee)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

[Fumblerooskies]

Yet Bert Blyleven gets HOSED once again.

[Sly Fox]

I can live with those selections.

[SumItUp]

Rickey was automatic and everyone knew he would be a first ballot guy. Jim Rice was a good selection that deserves the HOF, but would not have had an opportunity if it were not for Big Mac's testimony before Congress.

[TDDance234]

Next year, it should get interesting. McGwire is eligible for the first time.

My guess is that Alomar is the only first ballot out of the group.

[SumItUp]

Next year, it should get interesting. McGwire is eligible for the first time.

McGwire was on this ballot and got only 21.9% of the vote according to the article.

[adam42381]

How Rickey Henderson was left off of 28 ballots baffles me. The guy should have been on 99% of the ballots (nobody gets 100%). I'm happy to see Jim Rice go in but I honestly don't know if his numbers are really HOF-worthy.

BTW, this was McGwire's 3rd time on the ballot.

[Ed Dantes]

The people at http://www.citizenwes.com/ have a good write-up on every eligible candidate.

The 2010 class is rather weak: Alomar is probably the best shot to get in, Edgar Martinez will spur some debates, and Fred McGriff would get in if he played ten years earlier:

Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Andy Ashby, Ellis Burks, Dave Burba, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McLemore, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, Robin Ventura, Fernando Vina, Todd Zeile...

2011 is pretty sparse, too. Bagwell is your best bet, followed by Larry Walker. Raffy Palmeiro is going to be the big question mark: Wilson Alvarez, Carlos Baerga, Jeff Bagwell, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, Cal Eldred, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Marquis Grissom, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, Jose Offerman, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Paul Quantrill, Steve Reed, Kirk Rueter, Rey Sanchez, Benito Santiago, B.J. Surhoff, Ugueth Urbina, Ismael Valdez, Larry Walker, Dan Wilson

2012 could see no one get elected: 2012: Pedro Astacio, David Bell, Jeromy Burnitz, Vinny Castilla, Scott Erickson, Carl Everett, Jeff Fassero, Alex S. Gonzalez, Danny Graves, Rick Helling, Dustin Hermanson, Jose Hernandez, Brian Jordan, Matt Lawton, Javy Lopez, Bill Mueller, Terry Mulholland, Jeff Nelson, Phil Nevin, Brad Radke, Joe Randa, Tim Salmon, Ruben Sierra, J.T. Snow, Jose Vizcaino, Bernie Williams, Eric Young

2013 is when things get fun: Sandy Alomar Jr., Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Jeff Cirillo, Royce Clayton, Roger Clemens, Jeff Conine, Steve Finley, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Ryan Klesko, Mike Lieberthal, Kenny Lofton, Jose Mesa, Damian Miller, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz, Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Curt Schilling, Aaron Sele, Sammy Sosa, Mike Stanton, Todd Walker, David Wells, Rondell White, Bob Wickman, Woody Williams

[Fumblerooskies]

That above post reeks of blatant self-promotion! (and gets a well-done, for it)...

Next year should be Dawson and maybe no one else (although Blyleven should already be in). Alomar may still have detractors for the spitting incident, and the voters may do a first ballot protest on him.

Bagwell SHOULD get over 90% of the vote...but even though he has never been implicated...playing in the steroid era may hurt his chances.

I agree on 2012...could very well be a shut-out!

[Sly Fox]

Not touching the Bags discussion with a 10-foot pole.

[Fumblerooskies]

Not touching the Bags discussion with a 10-foot pole.

Are you saying maybe that tremendous tendon growth led to his shoulder problems? That going for a banjo hitting 3B prospect in the Red Sox system to 30-30 firstbaseman for Houston was NOT due to his natural maturity as a player and hard work in the off-season. Come now, Sly.

[Sly Fox]

I've been nearly assaulted for stating the obvious with fellow media members down here.

[Fumblerooskies]

I agree with some of the commentators who state the players have to be taken into context with the era...and you can't assume ANYONE was clean. Either you exclude them all or stop the bias against McGwire, and others who NEVER TESTED POSIITVE.

[Hold My Own]

Rickey said today "Rickey deserved this"




I PRAY TO GOD they get former teammates and coach's to tell Rickey stories, they are just as good as Yogi stories if not better...I promise

[HenryGale]

I heard a Ricky story on Mike and Mike today I had not heard before. When he was playing for San Diego (I believe) their accounting department found their books off by $1 million. They traced it back to Ricky. He had earned a $1 million bonus. Instead of cashing the check, he had it framed and was hanging on the wall in his house....

[Hold My Own]

I heard a Ricky story on Mike and Mike today I had not heard before. When he was playing for San Diego (I believe) their accounting department found their books off by $1 million. They traced it back to Ricky. He had earned a $1 million bonus. Instead of cashing the check, he had it framed and was hanging on the wall in his house....

That's great!

My favorite was the Helmet story...that's brilliant...your right I'm sure talk radio was great today for this type stuff....Jim Rome always has the best stories b/c he loves them too

[TDDance234]

How does Jose Visciano, Rey Sanchez (who couldn't hit himself out of a wet paper sack), and B.J. friggen Surhoff even get mentioned in the same breath as the hall of fame?

[adam42381]

How does Jose Visciano, Rey Sanchez (who couldn't hit himself out of a wet paper sack), and B.J. friggen Surhoff even get mentioned in the same breath as the hall of fame?

Any player who played 10 full seasons in the majors and has been retired 5 years is eligible.