Griffey blasted 630 home runs while making 13 All-Star teams and earning 10 Gold Glove awards. He will no doubt become the first Mariner inducted into the Hall of Fame a year from now.
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But what about the rest of the BBWAA ballot?
Here’s a partial list of those who will be eligible for the first time in 2016: Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Luis Castillo, Jim Edmonds, Troy Glaus, Mark Grudzielanek, Jose Guillen, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Mike Lowell, Russ Ortiz, Chan Ho Park, Mike Sweeney and Billy Wagner.
Some good players, sure, but only Hoffman is a strong candidate for eventual induction. The former Padres closer was a seven-time All-Star and two-time runner-up in the National League Cy Young voting. He pitched 18 seasons and finished his career with 601 saves, which was tops on the all-time list when he retired. He’s now No. 2 behind Mariano Rivera.
Hoffman may eventually be elected, but it’s hard to see him getting enough support next year to gain membership. No pure reliever has ever been elected in his first year of eligibility. And there are still several holdovers who will garner a significant number of votes.
Top returning players
Mike Piazza (69.9 percent of the vote in 2015): The greatest hitting catcher in MLB history has gained votes each of the three years he’s been eligible. Look for him to pass 75 percent next year and join Griffey in Cooperstown.
Jeff Bagwell (55.7 percent): Bagwell’s percentage went down in 2014 before rebounding a bit in 2015. He’s getting close, but it’s unlikely the former Astros slugger will see enough of an increase to be elected in 2016. Maybe 2017?
Tim Raines (55.0 percent): Sadly, Raines’ time is running out. It will be up to the Veterans Committee to give him his deserved plaque someday.
The PED guys
Roger Clemens (37.5 percent), Barry Bonds (36.8 percent), Gary Sheffield (11.7 percent), Mark McGwire (10 percent) and Sammy Sosa (6.6 percent): No, none of these men will be elected any time soon. Look for Sosa (and maybe McGwire and Sheffield) to fall off the ballot by failing to garner at least 5 percent of the vote in 2016.
Other returning candidates
Curt Schilling (39.2 percent), Lee Smith (30.2 percent), Edgar Martinez (27.0 percent), Alan Trammell (25.1 percent), Mike Mussina (24.6 percent), Jeff Kent 14.0 percent), Fred McGriff 12.9 percent), Larry Walker (11.8 percent) and Nomar Garciaparra (5.5 percent).