Yeah, I know technically Ron Santo will also be enshrined this summer, but dead people can't give induction speeches. Larkin managed to appear on 86.4% of the ballots. This is pretty impressive seeing as he was only on 62.1% of them last year. Hall of Fame voters, you make tremendous sense.
Jack Morris looks like he'll be sneaking his undeserving self in before everything is sad and done. Morris is up to 66.7% with two years left. Jeff Bagwell is up to 56%, a good improvement on the 41.7% from last January. Tim Raines gained 11.2%, reaching a new high of 48.7%.
The only new candidate who received enough votes to stay on the ballot another year was Bernie Williams (9.6%). The rest, and Juan Gonzalez, are all now cast aside. With the glut of great players soon to be eligible, it won't be shocking to see Rafael Palmeiro (12.6%) fall off the ballot in two years or so.
| Name |
2012
|
SSS
|
2011
|
| Barry Larkin |
86.4%
|
82.3%
|
62.1%
|
| Jack Morris |
66.7%
|
40.0%
|
53.5%
|
| Jeff Bagwell |
56.0%
|
73.8%
|
41.7%
|
| Lee Smith |
50.6%
|
36.9%
|
45.3%
|
| Tim Raines |
48.7%
|
73.8%
|
37.5%
|
| Alan Trammell |
36.8%
|
50.0%
|
24.3%
|
| Edgar Martinez |
36.5%
|
70.0%
|
32.9%
|
| Fred McGriff |
23.9%
|
32.3%
|
17.9%
|
| Larry Walker |
22.9%
|
24.6%
|
20.3%
|
| Mark McGwire |
19.5%
|
31.5%
|
19.8%
|
| Don Mattingly |
17.8%
|
26.1%
|
13.6%
|
| Dale Murphy |
14.5%
|
19.2%
|
12.6%
|
| Rafael Palmeiro |
12.6%
|
20.0%
|
11.0%
|
| Bernie Williams |
9.6%
|
20.0%
|
n/a
|
| Juan Gonzalez |
4.0%
|
3.8%
|
5.2%
|
| Vinny Castilla |
1.0%
|
2.3%
|
n/a
|
| Tim Salmon |
0.9%
|
5.3%
|
n/a
|
| Bill Mueller |
0.7%
|
0%
|
n/a
|
| Brad Radke |
0.3%
|
1.5%
|
n/a
|
| Javy Lopez |
0.2%
|
3.1%
|
n/a
|
| Eric Young |
0.2%
|
1.5%
|
n/a
|
| Jeromy Burnitz |
0%
|
1.5%
|
n/a
|
| Brian Jordan |
0%
|
1.5%
|
n/a
|
| Terry Mulholland |
0%
|
0%
|
n/a
|
| Phil Nevin |
0%
|
2.3%
|
n/a
|
| Ruben Sierra |
0%
|
1.5%
|
n/a
|
| Tony Womack |
0%
|
1.5%
|
n/a
|
UPDATE (4:01 EST by Jim):
To the left, I've compiled the BBWAA results, comparing them to our vote totals, as well as the BBWAA's results from the year before.
Some observations:
*Tim Raines received the biggest year-to-year increase of his candidacy period.
*Jack Morris' support surged after holding steady for two straight years around 53 percent. I'm guessing the lack of Bert Blyleven, and no other comparable pitchers, served him well.
*Alan Trammell got a sizable boost, which makes sense since he's quite comparable to Larkin.
*Mark McGwire saw his support dropped, but Rafael Palmeiro's support increased. That's a lesson to all players: Never, ever admit PED use, even if you test positive.
*Edgar Martinez, my personal sentimental no-doubter of this ballot, didn't gain many votes, which might put him in rough waters the next few years when Barry Bonds and Co. roll through.
*Jeff Bagwell looks like he's destined for induction, but given that doubts over his PED usage ended up being the big debate this year, I have no idea how people are going to look at him when the known users arrive on the ballot. He could either be two years out or 10 years out.
And speaking of the ballots the next two years, look who's coming to dinner:
2013: Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, Kenny Lofton, David Wells.
2014: Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent, Mike Mussina, Moises Alou.
2015: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield, Nomar Garciaparra, Carlos Delgado.