Thread: Hershiser, Gooden on Hall ballot, but not Rose

Hershiser, Gooden on Hall ballot, but not Rose


NEW YORK -- Pete Rose's eligibility for the baseball writers' Hall of Fame ballot expired Monday when the 2006 candidates were announced, a group that includes Cy Young Award winners Orel Hershiser and Dwight Gooden.

Albert Belle, Will Clark and Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen were among 14 first-time candidates on the 29-man ballot. Bruce Sutter is the holdover who came closest to election, falling 43 votes shy last year.


Following an investigation of his gambling, Rose agreed in August 1989 to a lifetime ban. The Hall's board of directors voted unanimously in February 2001 that anyone on the permanently ineligible list couldn't appear on the BBWAA ballot.

Rose, baseball's career hits leader, applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met with commissioner Bud Selig in November 2002. His efforts to end his suspension appeared to falter after he admitted in his 2004 autobiography, ``Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars,'' that he bet on the Cincinnati Reds while managing the teams in the late 1980s.

First-year candidates include pitchers Rick Aguilera, Alex Fernandez, Doug Jones and John Wetteland and infielders Gary DiSarcina, Gary Gaetti, Gregg Jefferies, Hal Morris and Walt Weiss.

To gain election, a player must be selected on 75 percent or more of the ballots. Sutter was on 66.7 percent of the ballots last year, followed by Jim Rice (59.5), Rich Gossage (55.2) and Andre Dawson (52.3).

Gooden was the NL Rookie of the Year season in 1984 and won the Cy Young the following year after going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA. Hershiser was the Cy Young in 1988, when he pitched a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings during the regular season, then was selected MVP of the NL championship series and the World Series.

Belle led the AL in RBI three times and finished a .295 batting average, 381 homers and 1,239 RBI. Clark had a .303 career average, 284 homers and 1,205 RBI.

Guillen was AL Rookie of the Year in 1985.

Reporters who have been in the BBWAA for 10 or more consecutive years are eligible to vote, and the totals will be announced Jan. 10.

The complete ballot:

Rick Aguilera, Albert Belle, Bert Blyleven, Will Clark, Dave Concepcion, Andre Dawson, Gary DiSarcina, Alex Fernandez, Gary Gaetti, Steve Garvey, Dwight Gooden, Rich Gossage, Ozzie Guillen, Orel Hershiser, Gregg Jefferies, Tommy John, Doug Jones, Don Mattingly, Willie McGee, Hal Morris, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter, Alan Trammell, Walt Weiss, John Wetteland.

If Gooden gets in the hall of fame before Rose does......I'll..I'll.....

This years ballot looks pretty weak as has the past few years. If I had to vote for 5 the most, well here's my opinion on them.


Rick Aguilera ---nope, average pitcher

Albert Belle---nope,Real good hitter but not a team player and off the field an asshole.

Bert Blyleven--maybe, was he dominant ever?

Will Clark--nope, will the thrill was ok

Dave Concepcion--nope, he was surrounded by great players but was he great?

Andre Dawson--hmmm,

Gary DiSarcina----never heard of him

Alex Fernandez---nope, you need at least 200 wins

Gary Gaetti---nope, .255 batting average for an average fielder.

Steve Garvey-- maybe, he does have .294 which not too bad. Was a leader on some good Dodger teams.

Dwight Gooden--Nope, when he first came up I thought he had the potential to be one of the best...instead he became a fucking bum..he is a huge disapointment.

Rich Gossage---Yes, was he dominant.....hell yes! If you were ever to imagine what a reliever should look like it's him.

Ozzie Guillen--nope, maybe he can try as a manager.

Orel Hershiser--Yes, he was unhittable in the playoffs...god I hate the Dodgers

Gregg Jefferies--nope, had he learned some defense he would have probably found a team who wanted him.

Tommy John--Maybe, was he dominant ever..no. But they did name that shoulder surgery after him. He was once called the Bionic man

Doug Jones---nope,

Don Mattingly---This on is so tough. He had some great numbers for 5 years before his back went out and he became average. I have to say though he was probably in the top 5 as far as fielders I ever seen in his position.

Willie McGee-- nope

Hal Morris--nope

Jack Morris---Yes, one of the last bull dogs in baseball and has over 200 wins

Dale Murphy--- ?? an enigma, he was good but. I don't know

Dave Parker--maybe, a 5 tool player with one of the strongest arms ever.

Jim Rice--Yes, he was awesome even if he did play for that team.

Lee Smith--nope, a complier

Bruce Sutter--Yes, the first player I ever saw with a dominant split finger fast ball

Alan Trammell, Walt Weiss, John Wetteland----no, no and no

Exactly, he has great numbers but he never led in any catorgory. I would take any of Mattinglys best 5 years over his 5 best years. He was good but he wasn't the dominant first baseman of his era.