2018 HOF - first timers

There are 19 players appearing on the HOF ballot for the first time this year.  There is a good chance for the majority of these players that it will be their only year on the ballot.  Some may have the great honor of being first ballot hall of famers, while others may not get the 5% of the vote need to be a sophomore sensation.  There should be a handful of players who won't even garner a single vote.

Here is a brief overview of the 19 on the ballot for the first time in 18.

Chris Carpenter - Pitcher 1997 to 2012 St Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays. 
Carpenter was a 3 time all star (all with the Cardinals) and the 2005 NL Cy Young winner He helped the Cardinals to World Series championships in 2006 and 2011.

Johnny Damon - Outfielder 1995 to 2012 Kansac City Royals, Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees,
Damon was a 2 time all star with the Red Sox in 2002 and 2005 and helped the Bo sox break the curse of the bambino in 2004 and win the World Series.  Johnny had 408 total stolen bases in his career (2nd among everyone on HOF ballot, tops among 1st timers) In 2000 with the Royals,  Damon led the American league in both runs scored (136) and  stolen bases (46).  In 2009 Damon got his 2nd world series ring while with the Yankees.

Livan Hernandez 1996 to 2012 Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Arizona D-Backs, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, World Series and NLCS MVP in 1997 with the Marlins.

Orlando Hudson 2nd Baseman 2002 to 2012 Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona D-backs, LA Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, 2 time all start (2007 Diamondbacks, 2009 Dodgers) 4 time gold glove winner
Aubrey Huff IF/OF/DH 2000 to 2012 Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, won the 2008 Silver Slugger Award td Edgar Martinez Award with Baltimore Orioles.  Won world Series with Giants in 2010 and again in 2012

Jason Isringhausen Pitcherr 1995 to 2012 (Mets, Cardinals, A's Rays, ANgels 2 time all star (A's Cardinals)

Andruw Jones centerfilelder 1996 to 2012 (Braves, Dodgers, Rangers, Whitesox Yankees) 5 time all star (braves) 10 time gold glove  1 time silver slugger award  2005 Hank AAoron award and 2005 sporting news player of the yerar award.

Chipper Jones third baseman 1993 to 2012 Braves 8 time all star,  2 time silver slugger,  won world series in 1995, 1999 NL MVP, 20008 NL Batting Title

Carlos Lee LF 1999 - 2012 White Sox, Breweres Rangers, Astros, Marlins 3x all star (brewews 2 Astros 1) 2 time silver slugger

Brad Lidge Pitcher 2002-2012 Astros, Phillies, Nationals  2time alls star (astros, phillies) World Series champion 2008 with Phillies, 2008 Rolaids Relief, 2008 deliverman of the years 2008 comeback player of the year.

Hideki Matsui Left Fielder 2003 - 2012 Yankees, Angels, A's Rays 2x all star Yankees, 1999 World Series champion with Yankees also 1999 World Series MVP

Kevin Millwood Pitcher 1997 to 2012 Braves, Indians, Phillies, rangers. Orioles, Rockies, Mariners All star with Braves, Led  AL in 2005 with Indians

Jamie Moyer Pitcher 1986 to 2012 Cubs, Rangers , Cardinals, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Phillies, Rockies, All Star with Mariners, Won 2008 World Series with Phillies

Scott Rolen 3rd Baseman 1996 to 2012 Phillies, Cardinals, Blue Jays Reds 1997 NL Rookie of the year Phillies, 7 time all Star (Phillies 1 Cardinals 4 Reds 2) 8 time Gold Glove 1 time Silver Slugger 2006 World Series Champs w Cardinals

Johann Santanna Pitcher 2000 to 2012 Twins,Mets 4 time all star (Twins 3, Mets 1) Cy Young 2004 & 2006 with Twins 2 time al leader era I time nl era leader 3 time al strikeout leader I time AL Wins leader won pitching triple crown 2006.One time gold glove winner

Jim Thome FB/DH  1991 to 2012 Indians, Phillies White Sox Dodgers, Twins, Orioles 5 time all star (Indians 3 , Phillies 1 , White Sox 1) 1 time silver slugger, 2002 Roberto Clemente award, 2004 Lou Gherig  and 2006 Comeback player of the year award

Omar Vizquel ss 1989 to 2012 Mariners Indians Giants Rangers White Sox Blue Jays 3 time all star(Indians) 11 time Gold Glove winner

Kerry Wood Pitcher 1998 to 2012 Cubs, Indians Yankees 2 time all star (Cubs) 1998 NL Rookie of the Year Led  league in strikeouts in 2003

Carlos Zambrano Pitcher 2001 to 2012 Cubs, Marlins 3 time all star (Cubs) 3 time silver slugger

2018 Hall of Fame - Returning Players Preview

The 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame election results will be revealed on  January 24th. Today we will preview the 14 returning players from last years ballot.




The players returning from last years ballot listed from the highest percentage of votes received to lowest are ...

Trevor Hoffman 74% of the vote in 2017, 3rd year on the ballot. 2017 was highest vote total.

Vladimir Guerrero 71.7% of 2017 2nd year on the ballot.

Edgar Martinez 58.6% of the vote in 2017. 9th year on ballot   Edgar's  highest % came in 2017.

Roger Clemens   54.1 % of the vote in 2017. 6th year on the ballot,   Clemens  received his highest %   in 2017,

Barry Bonds  53.8% of the vote in 2017. 6th  year on the ballot,  Bonds received his highest %  in 2017

Mike Mussina 51.8 %  of the vote in 2017.  5th year on ballot  Mussina's highest % came in 2017

Curt Schilling 45% of the vote in 2017. 6th year on the ballot,    Schillings highest % was 52.3 in 2016

Manny Ramirez 2nd year on the ballot, voters were just being voters last year when the put manny on just 23.8% of his inaugural ballot.

Larry Walker 21.9% of the vote in 2017. 8th year on the ballot . Larry's highest  % 22.9  came in 2012, his 2nd year on the ballot

Fred McGriff  21.7 % of the vote in 2017.  9th year on the ballot. Fred's  highest %  was 23.9 in 2012, his 3rd year on the ballot.

Jeff  Kent 16.7%  of the vote in 2017. 5th year on the ballot  . 2017 was Kent's highest total to date, .1 percentage points higher than his previous best in 2016.

Gary Sheffield 13.3% of the vote in 2017. 4th year on ballot highest percentage to date.

Billy Wagner 10.2 % of vote in 2017, 2nd year on ballot, 10.5% in 2016 best total so far

Sammy Sosa received 8.6% of the vote in 2017.   6th year on the ballot.   In 2012 Sammy received 12.5%, his highest percentage in his first year of consideration.


Next Time: A preview of first-time players on the 2018 ballot.