BY Mike Rifkin
On Sunday the Baseball Hall of Fame presented their class of 2024. The class consisted of Joe Mauer, Todd Helton, Adrian Beltre and Jim Leyland (Vet committee). So let’s look ahead to how I would vote for next year’s class. *Note will not include from Veterans committee.
Returning
- Billy Wagner : At the moment Wagner is top 10 in saves all time and outside of John Franco and Francisco Rodriguez all of the guys in front of him are in the Hall or will go in (Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen). Even though his playoff numbers might not be the best, Wagner fell a few votes shy last year, and with this being his last time on the ballot he should get in.
- Andruw Jones: 10 Gold Gloves and 434 homers should be enough to put Andruw Jones in. Jones was a premier Center Fielder on the premier team of the National League in the 90’s.
- Carlos Beltran : 2,700 hits, 435 homers, 312 Stolen Bases, three gold gloves, and a World Series Champ. Like Jones, Beltran was one of the best center fielders of his time. Yes, people can hold him accountable for his actions for the 2017 Astros, but it’s time he gets his plaque in Cooperstown.
First Time
- Ichiro Suzuki : Ichiro came into MLB in 2001 and promptly won Rookie Of The Year and MVP in the same season. He set the American League hit record for a season, had 10 200 hit seasons.
- CC Sabathia : Sabathia was the definition of a big game pitcher. Look at what he did for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 after being acquired from the Indians. CC was then instrumental in the Yankees success. He won one CY Young, but was a top five finisher four times. CC won 251 games,was the 2009 ALCS MVP and is a member of the 3,000 strikeout club.
- Dustin Pedroia : Pedroia’s career was cut short due to injuries, but when he played he was impactful. He won three World Series with the Red Sox,, four gold gloves, 2007 rookie of the year and 2008 AL MVP. Pedroia wasn’t the best player on the field, but he gave the Red Sox everything he had.
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