Ken Griffey Jr. Makes First Appearance on MLB HOF Ballot

As reported by USAToday, the 2016 Hall of Fame Ballot has been released and Ken Griffey Jr. is one of 15 new names on the ballot. Griffey Jr., and closer Trevor Hoffman are the strongest candidates for potential first ballot Hall of Famers. The list of 32 names was released Monday, and will go out to a recently trimmed 475 baseball writers that will get to vote. That number was decreased from 600 after the board of directors for the MLB HOF decided in July to dismiss voting privileges for the Baseball Writer’s Association of America (BBWAA) writers who have not actively been involved in the sport in the last ten years.

Making their cases for first ballot contenders, Griffey Jr. went to 13 All-Star games, is 6th on the all-time homeruns list, and was a Gold Glover 10 times. Trevor Hoffman finished his career with 7 All Star appearances and 601 saves accumulated over 18 seasons behind only Mariano Rivera who had 652. In order to get into the Hall of Fame you must be voted in by at least 75% of the BBWAA.

Players have 10 years to be voted in once their name is first on the ballot. Players must be voted in by at least 5% of the BBWAA to be eligible to remain on the ballot for the full 10 years. Mark McGwire and Alan Trammel are both entering their last year of eligibility while Sammy Sosa is flirting with that 5% cut-off line. All votes must be submitted by December 21.

FIRST-TIMERS ON BALLOT

(Table courtesy of Greg Warren of theScore.com)