Steroids, spitting and a curveball that apparently is getting better with time.
Those are the issues the Baseball Writers’ Association of America had to deal with in figuring out the 2011 Hall of Fame class, to be announced today.
Let’s start with the curveball, of which Bert Blyleven was known to have one of the best. It is Blyleven’s 14th time on the ballot. After receiving just 14.1 percent of the votes in his first year, he has apparently gotten better in voters’ eyes, progressively getting a higher percentage of votes. He was just five votes short last year after getting 74.2 percent of the needed 75 percent. It appears he will get the Hall call.
Roberto Alomar, one of the best-ever second basemen, was eight votes short last year in his first try. Surely, a spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck kept him out, despite the fact Alomar won 10 Gold Gloves and was a 12-time all-star and a career .300 hitter. He also is expected to make it this time.
On the ballot for the first time is Rafael Palmeiro, who had amazing numbers as a first baseman but also has a failed drug test on his resume, and this was after wagging his finger at Congress denying he ever used steroids.
So far, Mark McGwire has not come close to getting elected. But after admitting he used steroids, will that help his cause? Palmeiro’s numbers overall are better than McGwire’s, but where will he stand in the voters’ eyes?
Attention, Rockies fans: Outfielder Larry Walker is making his first appearance on the ballot.
