Ten for Tuesday - Memorable All Star Game Moments

Hey guys, Drew back here! Is it just me, or was that Home Run Derby the best since Josh Hamilton made his mark at Yankee Stadium in 2008? I had initially picked Prince Fielder to top Joc Pederson in the finals, and after Fielder hit 12 home runs against Todd Frazier I thought I would be on to something. But, last night entirely belonged to Frazier and the impressive Cincinnati Reds fanbase. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I really enjoyed the new format (especially in comparison to what it was before).

I had been planning a different Ten for Tuesday topic for a few weeks now, but last night's event got me in the All Star Game mood I normally am in but wasn't quite yet this year. Without further ado, here are (in my opinion), the 10 most memorable moments in Midsummer Classic history!

Top 10 Memorable All Star Game Moments

Image Source

The All Star Game started in 1933, and has been one of the premier events of most every baseball season since. Over recent years, there have been some questionable decisions concerning the significance of the game, and I can't say I'm much of a supporter for the winner taking home field advantage in the World Series. However, it still is enjoyable seeing my favorite players called out one by one in the player introductions and facing off against elite counterparts across the country.

Honorable Mentions - 

- Stan Musial's Walkoff Home Run in the 1955 All Star Game
- Torii Hunter robbing Barry Bonds of a Home Run in the 2002 All Star Game
- Fred Lynn hitting the only Grand Slam in All Star history in 1983
- Dave Parker throwing out Brian Downing at the plate in 1979
- Bo Jackson's leadoff Home Run in 1989

10 - John Kruk Embarrassed by Randy Johnson, 1993

No matter how many times I watch HOF inductee "The Big Unit" completely overpower Kruk, I still can't stop laughing. I don't know if it's because I'd almost rather gauge my eyes out than have to listen to Kruk and crew call a game on ESPN, but whatever it may be, I'll never get enough of it. Johnson wasn't done though. In 1997, much of the same occurred against Rockies outfielder Larry Walker, who ended up batting from the right side (although he is a left handed hitter) and turning his batting helmet backwards.

9 - Bud Selig Calls a Tie, 2002

Image Source

Former Commissioner Selig may have been the culprit for all of the issues we currently face with this game. In 2002, both teams ran out of players on their respective benches, and Selig called the game a tie after 11 innings. This decision sparked the idea for the game deciding home field advantage in the World Series, and the game has not been as fun ever since. The Commissioner had his moments along his tenure at the top of the game, but this certainly was not one of them, as he was booed relentlessly by Milwaukee fans. "Let them play!"

8 - Ted Williams Walks Off, 1941

"The most thrilling hit of my life," proclaimed Williams; speaking of his bomb that put an end to the 1941 Midsummer Classic. It was a special year for baseball, as Joe DiMaggio collected the longest hitting streak to this day and a young, 21 year old "Teddy Ballgame" batted .406 over the course of the entire season. He batted .304 with 4 home runs among his 19 career All Star Games, and was one of the faces of baseball throughout one of the dark periods of the 21st Century in the US; World War II.

7 - Pedro Martinez Dominates, 1999

The turn of the century was a great time to be Pedro Martinez. Between 1997 and 2000, Martinez went on a historic stretch that included 3 Cy Young Award victories and some of the best pitched seasons of his time. Keep in mind that this was during the heart of the steroid era, and he was pitching in the AL East, one of the most fiercely competitive divisions during that span. The Yankees were on top of the world, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, and there was no shortage of energy in baseball during that time.

So when Martinez came to the mound in the 1999 All Star Game, I guess we couldn't have expected any less from the 5'11 Dominican flamethrower. He struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced, which included now Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, and stars Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Jeff Bagwell. Muy bien.

6 - Cal Ripken Jr.'s Final Moment, 2001

This will perhaps be viewed as Alex Rodriguez's kindest gesture throughout his tumultuous career, but will forever be Cal's moment. Ripken had become a familiar face in the All Star Game, and in 2001 he made his 19th and final place among the elite. Ripken didn't necessarily deserve to be in the game statistically, much as Derek Jeter didn't last year, but out of respect for the man who played more consecutive games than even the "Iron Horse" himself, he was voted as the starting third baseman. As a nod to his excellent years patrolling shortstop for the Orioles, Rodriguez surprised Ripken and switched positions with him. Of course, Rodriguez would go on to play third base just a few years later when the Yankees traded Alfonso Soriano for him in one of the bigger blockbuster deals recorded.

But, back to Cal. In clutch fashion, Ripken led off with a home run, and was named All Star Game MVP in response. He couldn't have ended it any better than that.

5 - Babe Ruth Hits the 1st Home Run, 1933

Image Source

"The Bambino" had his share of firsts. From christening Yankee Stadium with its first home run to really being the transcendent figure in baseball history, Ruth was better at handling the limelight than any of his predecessors. He was exactly what the game needed to become the force to be reckoned with it is today (although it is currently being outshined by several other sports).

In 1933, who but Ruth stepped up to the plate in the 3rd inning against Bill Hallahan in the first All Star Game. He hit a two run home run, the first in All Star history, because, who else? Ruth only played in one other All Star Game before his retirement following the 1935 season, but we all know if the game debuted earlier he would rank among the very best.

4 - Carl Hubbell Makes History, 1934

Image Source

I could make a case for Hubbell being one of baseball's most underrated pitchers, but I'm going to hold off on that until the next edition of Ten for Tuesday. Instead, let's showcase the best pitching performance in All Star history, which hasn't been topped for almost 100 years. Pedro came close, but nothing could top Hubbell setting down 5 consecutive Hall of Famers by way of the strikeout: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin! Hubbell incorporated his lethal screwball to his advantage, working his way out of trouble and into the record books.

3 - Reggie Towers One, 1971

Chicks dig the long ball. And on that 1971 night in Detroit, everyone dug what Reggie Jackson displayed. Jackson's bomb off of infamous hurler Dock Ellis was the most famous of recent ASG history, as it not only landed on the roof but even turned off a light in the stadium! The ball supposedly traveled well over 500 feet, and was a perfect representation of what Jackson would become years later in New York. He could be a one man show when he was at the top of his game, and he certainly was at this Midsummer Classic.

2 - Pete Rose Collides with Ray Fosse, 1970

Pete Rose was not a dirty player. He played the game the way it was meant to be played. He may have broken the rules towards the end of his career, but nobody could take away from what was a brilliant career. One of his more notable moments came in the 1970 All Star Game, when he proved that the game was much more than an exhibition. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Rose came home at full force and crushed catcher Ray Fosse to win the game for the National League. "Charlie Hustle" missed the next few games with a bruised knee, but he shook it off rather quickly. Meanwhile, Fosse did not. He separated his shoulder and never was the same player again. He was certainly one of the best "What could have been?" players to ever step foot on a baseball diamond.

This year, Pete will be a central part of the All Star celebration. Prior to the game, there will be announcements for each team's "Franchise Four", and it is expected that Rose will be one of the Reds' selections. While he is out of baseball, he is currently seeking reinstatement although he previously signed his name saying he would never reapply to the game he did wrong in the mid 1980's. Fans have said that enough is enough, and despite breaking a cardinal rule of the game that once punished the entire White Sox team in 1919; they generally believe he has paid his dues. I'm not his biggest supporter, and do not always agree with his business decisions, but no player played harder and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame more.

I'm very anxious to see how tonight fares for the Hit King.

1 - All Century Team, 1999

It wasn't perfect. Anything voted by the fans is not perfect. I can imagine Brian Kenny picking apart the team sabermetrically and completely recreating it. But, picking the right guys wasn't necessarily the point of the All-Century Team. The All Star Game has been a celebration of the most enjoyable players to watch for over 80 years, and the All-Century Team was no different. Once again, Pete Rose was at the forefront of discussion when the nominees were revealed at Fenway Park prior to the Midsummer Classic. Rose was nominated, and there was controversy surrounding whether he should be allowed to be in the stadium despite being banished from Major League Baseball.

Sure enough, Pete was allowed to come, but at that point, nothing mattered more than the touching salute given to the Red Sox' finest player, Ted Williams. Williams was not in good condition at the time, and it would go on to be one of his final public appearances before his death in 2002. He had never been graceful to the Boston fans, but being carted out to an unbelievable ovation brought out the emotional side of perhaps baseball's finest contact hitter to ever live. All of the current players watched in awe and eventually joined Williams in the center of the diamond to speak with him. The late Tony Gwynn was right by his side, along with Nomar Garciaparra, Mark McGwire, and several others.

That was what baseball is all about. History embraced in its most beautiful form. Between the crowd screaming and chanting and the players so in tune with seeing their favorite players stand before them; that was a moment even a diehard Yankee fan like myself couldn't argue against.

Here's to a night filled with memories that can hopefully one day join this list.

See Ya!

Ten for Tuesday - Best International MLB Players

Hey guys, Drew back here! Yesterday, news was made in Tokyo when baseball was one of eight sports to be recommended to be added to the 2020 Olympic Games. Baseball hasn't been much of a success when brought into the Summer Games, but baseball's enormous presence in Japan could make for one of the most exciting events to look forward to when the time comes. With that in mind, I wanted to investigate who I would definitively rank as the greatest Foreign Born player in MLB history.

My criteria for this list was simple. Each player I considered had to be born outside of the United States, which excluded Alex Rodriguez since he was born in New York City. Also, the player was only to be considered for their exploits in Major League Baseball alone, and not for their performance in any other league. And as you will see, players who have been caught for performance enhancing drugs were not viewed as highly as their statistics may have garnered them.

Top 10 Foreign Born MLB Players in History

Honorable Mentions - Roberto Alomar (Puerto Rico), Ferguson Jenkins (Canada), Vladimir Guerrero (Dominican Republic), Bert Blyleven (Netherlands), Rafael Palmeiro (Cuba)

Image Source

I debated over Alomar and the tenth ranked player for quite some time, and ultimately Robby fell just shy of making this list. Alomar was one of the more underrated players of his era, and he could simply no wrong throughout his illustrious 17 year career. He won 10 Gold Glove awards and is widely considered one of the best defensive second basemen of all time. He also came up within 300 hits of reaching the 3,000 hit plateau and was a 12 time All Star. I've talked about writing a post about the most underrated players in the Hall of Fame for several weeks now, and when that list does indeed come out, Alomar just might come to mind.

Vladimir Guerrero is one of my all time favorite players who never wore pinstripes. Watching him hit was one of the most entertaining sights, and keeping him off this list was especially tough. Rafael Palmeiro is one of five players to compile 3,000 hits and 500 home runs (congratulations to Alex Rodriguez on recently becoming the 5th), but he managed to fall short as well.

10 - Ivan Rodriguez, C, Puerto Rico

Image Source

The second coming of the "Pudge" moniker barely cracked this Top 10, which speaks to just how tremendous of an impact foreign players have made on the game. Rodriguez has been labeled as the best defensive catcher of this past generation, but he was no slouch at the plate either. He has more hits than any other catcher ever, and retired with a lifetime batting average of .296. He may not come before Berra and Bench on All Time lists, but he isn't as far behind them as one may think. The Hall of Fame should be calling him sooner rather than later, even despite the PED suspicion surrounding his legacy.

9 - Juan Marichal, SP, Dominican Republic

Image Source

It wouldn't make sense keeping the "Dominican Dandy" from making the cut. Juan Marichal was anything but dandy to face throughout his prime, going 154-65 with a 2.34 ERA between 1963 and 1969 alone. He made ten All Star teams and won more games than any other pitcher through the 1960's with help from a high leg kick and fearsome delivery. Marichal may not have stood out much more than Canada's Ferguson Jenkins and the Netherlands' Bert Blyleven statistically (who were listed as Honorable Mentions), but he was one of the first Hispanic pitchers who found success in the big leagues which gives him the edge here. Unfortunately, he was often overlooked because of the pitching-rich era he played during, which also featured legends like Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax.

8 - Miguel Cabrera, 1B/3B/OF, Venezuela

Image Source

When Miguel Cabrera calls it a career, we may view him as one of the greatest offensive forces to ever step into the batter's box. He is on pace to join not only the 500 Home Run club but the 3,000 hit club as well, and could achieve much more if health remains to be on his side. This season, Cabrera is mashing .350 with a .456 OBP, 15 Home Runs and 52 RBI, already making up for a "bad" 2014 in which he batted .313 with 25 Home Runs. He is the best hitter I have had the pleasure of growing up with in my personal opinion, and I can't wait to see what more he will do before he calls it a career. It is safe to say "Miggy" will be closer to the top of these ranks by then.

7 - Manny Ramirez, OF, Dominican Republic

Image Source

The highest ranked known PED user on this list was as dangerous an offensive weapon as could be in the mid 2000's. Ramirez was a colorful personality for several teams over his 19 year career; always finding some way or another to make headlines. But what would always take the biggest stage was his bat, which helped lead the Red Sox to 2 World Series titles and brought him to 12 All Star Games and 9 Silver Sluggers. Between he and David Ortiz, he fell just short of being listed on the Honorable Mentions on this list, the Red Sox had a 3-4 lineup punch that could not be denied. He retired with 555 Home Runs and over 2,500 hits. Tainted or not, it was quite a career for a man who thrived on simply being himself.

6 - Rod Carew, 1B/2B, Panama

Image Source

Ah, yes. Hall of Famer Rod Carew. Carew's sweet swing led him to seven batting titles and over 3,000 career hits. He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1967 and won the AL MVP in 1977. He wasn't known for being a powerful bat, but was one of the greatest contact hitters in history. Carew was an All Star in every year but one throughout his 19 years in the big leagues, showing that he was not only a tremendous talent but a fan favorite as well. It isn't much of a surprise that he holds one of the higher places here. His trademark red batting gloves gave him all the extra flair he needed as his batting averages consistently soared to the top of the charts.

5 - Mariano Rivera, CP, Panama

Image Source

Rivera is one of my top 3 All Time Favorite Players, and the best closer in history. His cutter was unhittable on most nights throughout his excellent career, and he has become one of the most beloved athletes in New York sports history. His trophy shelf is enormous, and along with his various awards he also was named to 13 All Star teams. He was so good that he alone could change the outcome of a game when he entered, which is pretty rare to expect from a relief pitcher. Rivera will be most likely inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 when he first arrives on the ballot, and it will be about time by then.

4 - Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Japan

Image Source

The next active player on this countdown currently is stuck in the freakshow that is the Miami Marlins' organization, led by General Manager and Manager Dan Jennings. But rather than focus on the now, let's all do Mr. Suzuki some respect and reminisce on the good times. He followed in Japanese hurler Hideo Nomo's footsteps when moving on from Nippon Professional Baseball to the Major Leagues in 2001, and from the very first game it appeared as though he never left. His quickness, precision, and dominance could all be felt in a heartbeat, and he went on to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in his rookie season. He has since made ten All Star teams, won ten Gold Glove Awards, and has racked up over 2,800 hits (not including another 1,278 in Japan, giving him over 4,000 professional base knocks!) in one of the most impressive careers to date.

3 - Pedro Martinez, SP, Dominican Republic

Image Source

I'm not one of the guys who puts Pedro among the top shelf of pitchers ever. But I do recognize the impact he left behind with this sport, and how dominant his prime seasons were. Pedro will be on his way into the Hall of Fame this summer after a brilliant career spanning 5 teams in 18 years. His years with the Boston Red Sox were of the most significance; where he won 3 Cy Young Awards in a 4 year stretch (he finished 2nd the other year of those 4). He was a vintage-type performer on the mound; never afraid to unleash his fastball on any player willing to put up a fight. At times, he could be dangerous, throwing at batters to make amends, but that was Pedro. And clearly, if the Hall of Fame voters put him in the Hall as quickly and deliberately as they did, his strategy worked.

2 - Roberto Clemente, OF, Puerto Rico

Image Source

When originally thinking of making this list, I was almost positive Clemente would reign supreme over all of today's stars. However, this was not the case. Clemente had a fantastic career, garnering exactly 3,000 hits before dying in a tragic plane crash at the age of 38. He made 15 All Star teams, won 12 Gold Glove Awards, the NL MVP in 1966, and was part of two Pirates World Series winners in 1960 and 1971! He was a true 5 Tool Talent, and was capable of hurting teams on both sides at a Hall of Fame caliber. He was clearly the most impactful and influential man to ever come to the big leagues from outside the country, considering he was the best of the initial wave of foreign players. But one man's talent was able to unseat him from his throne, becoming (in my opinion) the greatest all around International player in MLB history.

1 - Albert Pujols, 1B, Dominican Republic

Image Source

The Machine. Since Albert Pujols signed his mega deal in Los Angeles, a lot of people, myself included, have turned our attention to Miguel Cabrera instead. Pujols got off to a bad start, battling injuries, and Cabrera was crushing the ball better than ever before. How could we not drop Pujols with talent like that emerging? Besides, Pujols' contract far outweighs the best player on his own team, Mike Trout, and people like me began to doubt what Angels management was doing. This may not keep up, but 2015 has shown that the best supposedly clean power hitter of our generation is back at full health, and he hasn't lost a step.

Pujols' rookie season in 2001 was just as spectacular as Ichiro's, but the National League was filled with slugging superstars such as Bonds and Sosa, which kept him from also winning the MVP that year. Since then, he stole the show for much of the mid to late 2000's, winning 3 NL MVP Awards, 2 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and making 9 All Star teams. He hit his 500th career Home Run last year, and is cruising up the leaderboard (now 16th All Time with 543, chasing Mike Schmidt). This man had a presence that could be felt from miles away in his prime, and it's exciting to see slices of that tremendous past come back on occasion. When all is said and done for Prince Albert, he could potentially reaching 700 Home Runs and 3,000 hits. The only other player who has done that currently is Hank Aaron, but Alex Rodriguez may reach it as well if he hangs on long enough.

People are going to argue that Clemente was a better player than Pujols. That's okay. We as people tend to look back on the past and see it as better than the current. When you're young, you're prone to believing much of what you see, magnifying iconic athletes, celebrities, and musicians to be larger than life and far superior to others of their respective kinds. I'm not trying to slight Roberto by any sense of the word, but if you really compare their statistics and think about their individual dominance in baseball, they can relatively easily be compared. Nobody can match the impact Clemente left behind as a person, but on the field, I'll take Pujols.

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below if you think otherwise!

*UPDATE: Sorry, this was meant to be posted yesterday. However, it's my blog, so I can do what I want with it. Call it "Ten for Wednesday" if it makes matters easier. Times have been especially tough lately on a personal note, and this was the best I could do, but I hope you all enjoy it!*

See Ya!

My New Hall of Fame Showcase!

Hey guys, Drew back here! I'm very proud to congratulate four great players on their inductions into Cooperstown, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio! I originally predicted 3 of those 4 to make it in 2015 with Smoltz barely missing the cut this year but making it in within a year or two, but I'm so glad that wasn't the case. We just missed adding Mike Piazza as well, but it looks like next year he and Ken Griffey Jr. will look to share the spotlight.

Since most of the baseball world has been focused on the Hall of Fame vote these past few weeks, I had been preparing this post for a little while now once the voting had concluded. This Christmas I received a really cool baseball holder, and I decided to hang it on one of the few open spots on my wall and put all of my Hall of Fame signed baseballs inside. I kept most of my Yankees balls together with the exception of the HOF'ers, and while I was originally 3 baseballs shy of filling the case with Hall of Famers, with yesterday's induction that was slimmed down to 2. About a year and a half ago, I met John Smoltz at the East Coast National Show, and added a signed baseball to my collection in hopes that he would be enshrined one day, and yesterday I was able to put him into my ultimate pitching rotation that spans two rows (or 11 of 21 total balls) of the case.

Here is how the display currently looks as of January 2015! I look forward to replacing two of the balls with Hall of Famers, but do wish Fred McGriff and Vladimir Guerrero all the best in being one day inducted.

Row 1: Gaylord Perry, Ralph Kiner, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Vladimir Guerrero (non-HOF), Fred McGriff (non-HOF)

Row 2: Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford, Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Warren Spahn

Row 3: Fergie Jenkins, Jim Palmer, John Smoltz, Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers

Row 4: Frank Thomas, Johnny Bench, Cal Ripken Jr.

Row 5: Yogi Berra

The lighting in the room seems to make most of the balls look more yellow than they actually are, but I've never been one to particularly care how worn the ball is as long as the signature is presentable. I never was interested in collecting signed baseballs but soon realized I couldn't have signed pictures of everyone because I didn't have enough space to present them all, so I took an alternative path and I now love to add baseballs of my favorite players and Hall of Famers. It will never quite compare to my good buddy William's insane 108 Hall of Famer deep baseball collection (please check this out if you want to be impressed), but I personally prefer to dabble all around the various highlights of our great hobby.

So what do you think? How do you all prefer to display your baseballs? Thank you to Mom and Dad for such a smart gift, it cleared a lot of space on my desk (for more baseballs)! Congrats again to all of the new members of Cooperstown's Finest, and for now, See Ya!

If I had a Vote...

Hey guys, Drew back here! I know I'm a few days late for this, but Happy New Year everyone! As most of you are aware, with each new year comes a new Hall of Fame class in Major League Baseball, and this year's vote has come with much controversy. With a vote limit of only 10 players per year and so much talent currently up for election, along with the Steroids issue, many writer's are struggling to compile their ballots. While my answer is certainly not the end-all-be-all to all other lists, I figured I'd offer up my personal ballot with explanations for each player.

My 2015 Hall of Fame Ballot

Image Source

1. Randy Johnson (Stats)
"The Big Unit" should be absolutely no question included in the Hall of Fame. Although he didn't hit his stride until his late 20's, Johnson was unstoppable up until his signing with the Yankees in 2005. He compiled 303 wins over his 22 season career, won 5 Cy Young Awards (including 4 in a row from 1999-2002), and led the league in strikeouts 9 times! The question for Johnson is not whether he'll get in, but how much he'll get in by. But it appears that his final voting percentage (which I don't find all that important) will be affected by some writers who will choose not to vote for him in order to give others a push to make it in, since Johnson will certainly receive the votes needed to be inducted this season. I'll always remember his signing with the Yankees, because 2005 was the first year I ever watched baseball full time. While he was past his prime, I remember loving to watch him and even had his pinstripe jersey at one point. Randy Johnson will be a Hall of Famer by this time tomorrow, without a doubt.

2. Pedro Martinez (Stats)
When I started to watch baseball, I couldn't stand this guy. But, most of that hatred was out of pure respect. I missed Pedro's prime seasons, but the statistics jumped out at me when I took a look at his Baseball Reference page. His final season in Montreal in 1997 sparked an incredible run of excellent seasons, and unfortunately for this Yankee fan, the remainder of those seasons were in Boston. A three time Cy Young winner, 3 time strikeout league leader and 5 time ERA league leader, Pedro had one of the best primes of any pitcher in the game's history. Between the 1999 and 2000 seasons, he was 41-10 with a 1.90 ERA and 597 strikeouts. It would be a travesty if he does not dominate the ballot this year, but it appears likely that he'll be joining Johnson as the only two locks in 2015.

3. Craig Biggio (Stats)
Longevity can be a very helpful tool in making the Hall of Fame, and I think Biggio will attest to that after he barely squeaks into Cooperstown this year. After viewing his career statistics, I can see why he is regarded as a Hall of Famer, but I don't think he ranks among the very best. Clearly we've seen over the years that the Hall contains several tiers of talent, but Biggio's consistency and lifetime totals of 3,060 hits and 668 doubles (most doubles for any right handed hitter in history) undoubtedly provide him with a place. He was versatile and loyal to the Astros throughout his remarkable 20 year career, and is a fan favorite whenever he steps into Minute Maid Park today. After coming up just two votes short of being inducted last year, I don't see how he fails to make it in again, and should be the third and (in my opinion) final member of the 2015 Class.

4. Jeff Bagwell (Stats)
People have already made claims that there are cheaters in the Hall of Fame. And there is no question that the "purity" the BBWAA says a player needs to have does not exist throughout all of the halls in Cooperstown. Ty Cobb was one of the greatest players in baseball history but was a racist and was charged with attempted murder. It was never verified, but Cobb along with Tris Speaker have been speculated as members of the KKK, and were involved with fixing games. It's a shame that Pete Rose is held out of the Hall of Fame while guys like Cobb, Speaker, and Gaylord Perry are in and respected as legends of the game.

So what does that have to do with Bagwell? Bagwell is one of the questionable steroid guys, although nothing has ever been close to proven. It feels like at a roundtable one day someone said "Jeff Bagwell is a big guy, he must've done steroids," and this rumor came about that has since excluded him from the Hall. It is said that he lifted weights like a body builder, which he has since regretted because it ended his career earlier than expected. But, with an MVP award, Rookie of the Year award, and 449 home runs, and no proof of steroid use, I don't understand how he hasn't garnered more consideration than he has. The American system (supposedly) is to be innocent until proven guilty, and what the writers are doing right now feels like a crime. If he was ever proven guilty of using PED's, so what? Put a little asterisk on his plaque to signify his "crime" and be on your way. Bagwell should be entering the Hall of Fame with his fellow Astro lifer Biggio regardless of suspicion, but it won't happen unless Biggio falls short this year.

Image Source

5. Mike Piazza (Stats)
Piazza is the other mysterious steroid user whose name is being juggled by the jury, because he took a drug to cure his back acne. It's embarrassing to think that Piazza has had to make the world aware of his back acne problem in order to prove that his Hall of Fame case should be taken legitimately. Statistics prove that Piazza was the best offensive catcher in baseball history! He wasn't a very good catcher, but provided reliability while also crushing the ball for several teams in his 16 seasons. A 12 time All Star and 10 time Silver Slugger winner should have a spot reserved in the Hall, even if his back acne didn't make for the most attractive appearance. He won't be inducted this season, but I believe, regardless of any rumors, he should not be restricted from entering where everyone knows he belongs.

6. John Smoltz (Stats)
You may ask why Smoltz's name is not in bold along with Johnson, Martinez, and Biggio. I have a hunch that he's going to fall just a bit short of reaching induction in his first year on the ballot. I may be wrong, but if I am, I won't be off by a whole lot. I just feel like there is too much talent available to choose from, and recent sabermetric reports have shown that Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling should be held at a similar standard to Smoltz. Some may feel like they have to vote for all of them or none of them (which is absurd, but hey, if Aaron Sele can get a vote anything can happen). But don't criticize me, he's on my ballot and if he doesn't make it this year, he'll be inducted by next year. Between his dominance as a starter and reliever, along with one of the best postseason track records in history, I think it's only right that he joins his former teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine with a plaque over time.

7. Curt Schilling (Stats)
I am not a Schilling fan by any definition of the word. I do wish him all the best facing oral cancer, because I don't believe anyone deserves to suffer through such a tragic illness, but I do not like the guy. Character is supposedly judged by the BBWAA, but as I mentioned before it has not seemed to be a critical point in voting until the Steroid Era players entered the ballot. Whether the sock was bloody or ketchupy though, this guy deserves to be in Cooperstown. I initially did not think he had the statistics, but advanced metrics have given him a boost that have changed my mind. I do not rely on sabermetrics to make or break my voting procedure, but sometimes the numbers are too striking to ignore. He was a fantastic postseason pitcher, which should be an added bonus as far as voting is considered (Bill Mazeroski does not belong in the Hall of Fame based on one monumental home run) but should be the deciding factor, along with having won 3 World Series; despite being a critical part of all three. All in all, Schilling barely made the cut on my list and knocked off one of my favorite players, which I will soon explain.

8. Tim Raines (Stats)
I wish Tim Raines started his career ten years later. Similarly to the way Bagwell and Piazza are blamed for rumors they had no involvement in, Raines has received an unfair factor as well by playing in the shadow of Rickey Henderson. Can we please acknowledge Raines' career OBP of .385 and stolen base percentage of 84.7%? Rock also may not have faced the pressures of drug use by starting his career later, but I think most people have since forgiven him for being involved in the cocaine scandal in the early 1980's. But let's focus on the performance, because although he may have stuck around in the game a bit too long (as did Henderson), he was dominant during his peak and always a valuable player to own. Raines would not be one of those top tier guys, and does not rank as high as Rickey Henderson, but should be recognized for his tremendous career, although I don't see it happening until the Veteran's Committee one day elects him.

9. Barry Bonds (Stats)
When Bonds first debuted on the ballot in 2012, there was no chance I ever envisioned myself supporting him. Fresh off of the Steroid Era and constant news of indictment and court, I absolutely despised the man. Time does appear to heal all wounds though in my case, as here I am including him on my ballot for 2015. I still have no respect for the man, but I don't find it fair that there are criminals in the Hall of Fame and he won't be let in. As much as some of you may hate to hear this, Bonds has still never been proven of failing a drug test, and has only admitted to using a cream to assist his arthritis. Before and after his supposed steroid use he was one of the best (if not the best) player in baseball history. But everyone knows that, and seeing his name on my ballot wouldn't surprise anyone if not for the PED's. I don't see Bonds being inducted for years to come, but I think given the "purity" of the Hall of Fame was tarnished in its first Induction Class of 1935 when Cobb was inducted, cheaters should be recognized and inducted. I'll let the Hall of Fame decide how they will go about displaying their plaques, because it should be noted on his plaque that he was one of the core players of the Steroid Era of Baseball. It should not be a celebrated part of the Hall, but I think it's only right that the Home Run King* is in the Hall of Fame.

Image Source

10. Roger Clemens (Stats)
For many of the same reasons I have included Bonds on my ballot, I also included one of my least favorite Yankees of all time, Mr. Clemens. I do this with an understanding that these players will probably not be inducted until the baseball writers forgive them (an official admission would go a long way), but also because it's impossible to imagine this generation of baseball without thinking of both of these guys. You can not forget that these players existed, and it is only right that they eventually get their due. Plus, it may help Pete Rose's case if these players are forgiven, which I would fully support despite his betting on baseball. And on top of it all, when I walk my kids around the Hall of Fame one day, I want to be able to show them all of the history of the game and not just what the MLB chooses to display. Hiding history is not healthy for America's pastime, and I believe by having Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Rodriguez, and possibly McGwire in the Hall of Fame will elevate the legacies of Ruth, Mays, Mantle, and Aaron even more. "These players needed to use amphetamines to compete with each other, but these other players didn't even have to use those drugs to compile the same statistics". I don't like any of these guys, but the Hall of Fame is not as clean as it claims to appear and it should instead embrace the history of the game, or at least do something to display an era they may not like to show off.

*Bold = Predicted to Be Elected on January 6th

Honorable Mentions

Mike Mussina (Stats)
I really had a hard time keeping Mussina off the list. I kept Schilling on my list over Moose only because I think Schilling was more dominant over the course of his career. However, I view Mussina as a Hall of Famer, and he was my #11 pick, thus showing my distaste for the current voting system in place.

Alan Trammell (Stats)
I did not get to watch Alan Trammell, and it appears that his case has been based around his intangibles and performances rather than solely on statistics. I think Trammell should be in because Larkin and Ozzie Smith are in, but I still don't quite understand the hype surrounding Larkin and why he was as big of a lock as he was.

Fred McGriff (Stats)
"The Crime Dog" has been robbed by so many other players throughout the years of votes, and while he isn't a dominant player, he would've hit 500 home runs without steroids if the 1994 season didn't end early due to the strike. He was a quiet player but was a premium power player who would've been looked at differently if he played in another era.

I also believe Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire should be inducted over time if Bonds and Clemens get in, although it didn't appear that Sosa would've been successful had he not cheated all throughout his career. I don't like them either, and I don't have that connection to their home run race because I was only two years old at the time, but if those guys get in, they should too. Edgar Martinez was a great hitter but is devalued for having been a DH. Larry Walker was also great but often injury prone, and playing his career in Colorado seemed to have elevated his statistics. A case can be made for so many players on the ballot, including even Don Mattingly on his last year of voting, and Gary Sheffield on his first year of voting; who may not even get the 5% needed to remain next year. With the amount of talent currently on the ballot, feelings are going to be hurt and deserving players may never get their opportunity to take the podium and celebrate their careers for the Cooperstown faithful. But if I had to pick 10, I took in my opinion the players with the ten best careers (with exception of Sosa and McGwire who won't get in unless Bonds/Clemens make it). You may not like my list, but it's my list, remember? I'm willing to forgive the steroid players enough to let them in but not without making all Hall visitors aware of what they've done.

As far as the actual vote goes tomorrow, I'm going to guess due to the huge amount of talent that Smoltz barely misses the cut, but I wouldn't be surprised if I'm wrong. I'll be looking forward to seeing the results, and I would love to chat in the comments below! Let me know your thoughts!

See Ya!

Grandpa Roy Column Answers

Well guys, good job with that question! There were so many different guesses, but only a few guys got the answers. Here's the question again:

To be a successful pitcher, you need to have good control, because as Yogi says, "Good pitchin' stops good hittin', and vise versa". 4 pitchers in MLB history have recorded over 3000 strikeouts while issuing less than 1000 bases on balls, or walks. Oddly enough only 1 of the 4 is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Who are they?

Ferguson Jenkins is the only Hall of Famer that ever accomplished this, making him the best control pitcher in the Hall of Fame. The other 3 that ever accomplished this are Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Curt Schilling, 3 future hall of famers. The trick of this question was the other 3 weren't in the Hall of Fame, but they will be. If Greg Maddux started 1 MORE GAME, unless he didn't walk anybody he be out of this question. He walked 999 guys in his career, and Fergie Jenkins walked 997 batters.

Here is the list of everyone's correct answers:

Hackenbush said...

Can I start with two? I promise they're off the top of my head. Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux.

FanOfReds said...

I think Pedro Martinez is one.

Don said...

I know off the top of my head that Fergie Jenkins is one of them. I will guess that Greg Maddox is another.

Hackenbush said...

Hey Drew,

Is the 4th one Curt Schilling?

mmosley said...

i'm going to make 2 guesses: Smoltz or Schilling.

Anothetr great question. Most strikeout pitchers rack up the walks as well.

dkwilson said...

My first guess was Greg Maddux and I was right. 3371 strikeouts and 999 walks.

So here is the point breakdown:

1st 4 Points:
Hackenbush: Jenkins, Maddux, Schilling (3 Total Points!)
Fanofreds: Martinez (1 Point)

Also credited .5 a point:
Don named 2 (1 Point)
mmosely named 1 (1/2 a point)
dkwilson named 1 (1/2 a point)

Thanks for playing, and see ya!

I'm gonna say MOJO a lot in this post

MOJO MOJO MOJO MOJO MOJO MOJO MOJO MOJO MOJO

There, that feels good but won't be the last time I say it in this post. First, I want to say that the new Harry Potter movie, "Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince", was awesome, and if you're a fan of that stuff, go see it. It had a sad ending but the rest of the movie was really good. I have seen all the movies so far, and the only one I read was the 2nd book. In case you didn't know, there are 7 books in the series, and will be 7 movies. This movie was the 6th and the final one should be coming out maybe late next year. So yeah, just wanted to tell you guys that and let's move on.

Next, I want to thank Jay from the Mojo Hand so much for hooking me up with 150 cards from the 2008 UD Goudey set. I won his contest and received the cards today! Everything was packaged well and was in great condition. I also won the bonus contest for this and received this card:

2008 UD Goudey Hunter Pence Jersey Card!

Some other great cards included were:


3 Hit Parade of Champions Minis


10 Sport Royalty Inserts


2 Base Card Short Prints


5 President Inserts


2 President Minis


7 Mini Cards (6 red backs including Sport Royalty, Victorino Blue Back)


And A TON of base!

So thanks Mojo for sending Drew Collector some stuff! I greatly appreciate it, and you guys, if you haven't checked out his blog, please do. In a couple days I will post a wantlist for 2008 Goudey, because since I have quite a bit now, I want to finish it off. So, wish me luck with my packs, I need it!

Lastly, let's go AL! We have won since 1996 if you have been living under a rock and didn't know, and my Yanks did pretty well. Jeter got hit by pitch and seems to be OK, and scored 2 runs, and Teixeira got on base. Mariano Rivera picked up his 4th All Star Game save, the most all time in the All Star Game. What a catch by Crawford also! I watched until the bottom of the 8th, and it wasn't all that interesting of a game, but that play helped things out. 4-3 American League Wins, Crawford is MVP.

And Pedro. The newest member of the 15 Day DL! and the phillies