my 15 gripes of the Hall of Fame

I think the writers did a terrible job. Getting right to the point, here's my problem with the Baseball Hall of Fame, the BBWAA, and the voting process.

1. In 1992, Tom Seaver received the largest percent of the the votes ever, 98.8%.

Seaver won 311 games, had a career ERA 2.86, compiled 3,640 strikeouts, was selected to 12 All Star teams, won Rookie of the Year, won 3 Cy Young awards, won a World Series, pitched a no-hitter, and was an all-around great guy.

And five voters did not think he belonged in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

9 knuckleheads did not vote for Hank Aaron, 20 people didn’t vote for Ted Williams, 23 people didn’t vote for Willie Mays, 23 people didn’t vote for Stan Musial, and 57 voters left off Yogi Berra.

There is no reason any of those players should not receive 100% votes. If people with a prolonged career as a baseball writer and honored with a counted vote for the Hall of Fame can't select the most obvious candidates in the history of the game, why do those trolls get a vote?

2. Players can remain on the ballot for 15 years. Seriously, what changes 19 years after a player retires that helps his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame? If it takes more than five or six tries, maybe that's a good indication he doesn't belong.

3. Pete Rose, the hit king whose record will never be broken, was banned from the Hall of Fame because he bet on baseball after he retired. Meanwhile, the Yankees and Mets are sponsored by Mohican Sun and Foxwoods Casino. As are most other teams.

4. Bert Blyleven (career record 287-250, two-time All-Star) in but Curt Schilling (216-146, six-time All-Star) and Jack Morris (254-186, five-time All Star/three-time All Star Game starter, Opening-Day starter 14 years in a row) out? Is this the Hall of Fame or the Hall of Longevity?

5. In a year where the ballot included players with 762 home runs, 3,060 hits, 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts, the greatest hitting catcher of all time, and the fourth best first baseman of all time...

...5 people voted for no one, 2 voted for Shawn Green, and 1 voted for Aaron Sele. No one was elected. One writer voted for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens and NOT Mike Piazza. Explain that.

6. The primary reason baseball writers didn't vote for players was because of speculation and suspicion of steroid use. They never failed a drug test. They never broke a league rule. Clemens was suspected but was found not guilty in a court of law because the only evidence of his use was provided by compulsive liars. The evidence against Bonds, McGwire and Sosa is pretty conclusive. But what about guys like Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell? All there is is unfounded speculation and suspicion created by columnists. And that is enough to keep them out of the Hall of Fame? You want to keep Palmeiro out for failing a drug test and being a moron in front of Congress, fine; but there is nothing to link Piazza or Bagwell.

7. This was a blatantly cowardly, self-serving, self-righteous move to turn attention to the writers instead of the players. There were plenty of deserving candidates, but the writers felt a need to "prove" something.

8. Baseball took advantage of McGwire and Sosa to really blossom into the most popular era ever for the sport. The race of '98 revived the sport back completely from the strike of '94, and it benefited fans, writers, players, and the entire league. And now when there's time for these players to finally get recognized and honored for what they did, the baseball world wants to distance themselves as much as possible and discredit what they accomplished? Thanks.

9. Did you see them play? I didn't like him but still, Barry Bonds was the most dominant hitter I've ever seen. He had a slugging percentage of .863 one year. He had an on-base-percentage of .609 another season. He walked 232 times in one season. He's the only member of the 500-500 club and the MVP a record 7 times. He was listed as the #6 Best Baseball Player of All Time (and that's being conservative!). And 64% of the voters don't think he belongs in the Hall of Fame? Then why have a Hall of Fame?

10. "Cheating" in baseball is nothing new. Gaylord Perry was famous for it on the field. Whitey Ford was legendary for illegally scuffing the baseball. Many players were encouraged to take illegal amphetamines, including Mike Schmidt. Players were using testosterone supplements in the 1890s. The MVP award is named after a racist Commissioner, and blacks weren't allowed in the league until 1947. Mickey Mantle was a drunk and a philanderer. The old-timers were no better or cleaner than the guys now. It didn't stop them from voting the guys in then, yet 2013 is the year that people suddenly care about morals?

11. "You can't know who did it or didn't do it, so leave them all out" is the dumbest argument ever.

12. Why is baseball (along with cycling *yawn* and the Olympics) the only sport that cares about PEDs? What about football and basketball?

13. Many of the Founding Fathers and early leaders of America were slave owners. It wasn't a good thing but it certainly wasn't illegal back then. They can still be honored and have a place in history. They are on display at National Museums everywhere. The mission of the Baseball Hall of Fame is "Preserve History, Honoring Excellence, and Connecting Generations." Yet these writers want to pretend that the 1985-2005 years didn't happen? They weren't important or relevant? What is this, Nazi Germany or Communist China?

14. What's the point of a Baseball Hall of Fame without the Hit King, Home Run King, and arguably the greatest pitcher of all time?

15. What the heck, my ballot would have had: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, Jack Morris, Edgar Martinez, Sammy Sosa