The MLB Hall of Fame Class of 2016
The ballots are in and the 2016 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class has been finalized. The BBWAA have opened the doors to Cooperstown for two remarkable players. Immortalized in 2016 will be Ken Griffey Junior and Mike Piazza as per the live announcement on MLB Network.
Primarily a centerfielder throughout his career, Griffey is one of the most decorated players in Major League history, earning 13 All-Star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Sluggers, and the 1997 American League MVP award. Griffey makes baseball history by recording the highest percentage of votes received (99.3%) in the history of the Hall of Fame, while doing so on his first year on the ballot. The highest voting percentage was previously held by Tom Seaver who was voted in by 98.84 percent of ballots. Griffey also becomes the first #1 selection in the MLB Draft to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ken Griffey Jr. will forever be immortalized in Cooperstown. pic.twitter.com/ordnoQBdAA
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) January 6, 2016
Mike Piazza finally gains entry into the Hall in his fourth year on the ballot after falling only 28 votes short of induction in 2015. Piazza is widely considered one of the best, if not the best hitting catchers in Major League history, despite being drafted in the 62nd round of the MLB Draft. Winning National League Rookie of the Year in 1993, Piazza would make 12 All-Star appearances, win 10 Silver Slugger awards, and finish top-10 in MVP voting seven times. The star catcher received votes on 83% of the ballots cast and will be given the choice to be inducted as a New York Met, Los Angeles Dodger, or choose to list no team on his plaque. However, Piazza has repeatedly stated that if elected, he would choose to be inducted as a New York Met.
Welcome to the Hall, Mike Piazza. pic.twitter.com/rSScdqTCkL
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) January 6, 2016
Notably missing the cut are Jeff Bagwell, appearing on 71.6% of ballots cast, and Tim Raines, appearing on 69.8% of ballots cast. The remaining players who remain eligible for the 2017 ballot by receiving 5+ percent of ballots cast include Sammy Sosa (7%), Billy Wagner (10.5%), Gary Sheffield (11.6%), Mark McGuire (12.3%), Larry Walker (15.5%), Jeff Kent (16.6%), Fred McGriff (20.9%), Lee Smith (34.1%), Mike Mussina (43.0%), Edgar Martinez (43.4%), Barry Bonds (44.3%), Roger Clemens (45.2%), Curt Schilling (52.3%) and Trevor Hoffman (67.3%). Alan Trammell is the lone exception on this list that will not be eligible for 2017, as he has exhausted his 15 years on the ballot despite receiving 40.9% of the vote this year. The list of players receiving less than 5% of votes and falling off the ballot includes Jim Edmonds, Jason Kendall, Troy Glaus, Mike Hampton, Luis Castillo, Randy Winn, Garret Anderson, Mike Lowell, Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Sweeney, David Eckstein and Brad Ausmus.
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