2015 – The BBWAA elects four players to the Hall of Fame, one of the largest classes ever. Three dominant pitchers all make it on their first try – Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz – while 2B Craig Biggio makes the grade on his third attempt.
A huge crowd estimated at 48,000 is on hand for the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. This year’s class is unusually large and prestigious, featuring three players elected on the first ballot: 300-game winners Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and slugger Frank Thomas, a member of the 500 home run club. Joining them are three managers who stand at #3, 4 and 5 on the all-time win list in Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. Maddux, Glavine and Cox all found their greatest success in the great Atlanta Braves teams of the late 1990s.
St. Louis officials reveal details about the team’s new Hall of Fame that will be established this spring when their new museum is dedicated at the Cardinals Nation in the Ballpark Village. The team’s initiative will immortalize the greatest players and other key figures in franchise history, starting with the inaugural class of twenty-two individuals, who have been selected due to their induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, or by virtue of having had their number retired by the team.
The Veterans Committee unanimously elects three managers who were highly successful in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s to the Hall of Fame: Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre were fixtures in the postseason over the period, combining for 8 World Series titles and 10 Manager of the Year awards. In addition to their overlapping careers, LaRussa, Cox and Torre rank 3rd, 4th and 5th on the all-time list of managerial wins, behind Connie Mack and John McGraw.
The Latino Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 15 newest members, namely Teddy Higuera, Mike Cuellar, Tony Armas, Juan Gonzalez, Matty Alou, Tony Fernandez, Silvio Garcia, Vic Davalillo, Vic Power, Felipe Montemayor, Santos Amaro, Julian Javier, Humberto Robinson, Cookie Rojas and Rennie Stennett.
Barry Larkin, who spent his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, is elected to the Hall of Fame with 86.4% of the vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America in his third year of eligibility. Larkin won the 1995 National League Most Valuable Player Award and was a 12-time All-Star, as well as the first shortstop to join the 30-30 club.
Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven are voted into the Hall of Fame when the results of the 2011 Hall of Fame Election are announced. Alomar, twice a World Champion with the Toronto Blue Jays and a perennial Gold Glove winner at second base, makes it in his second year on the ballot. For workhorse pitcher Blyleven, it’s been harder. He started out at 17.5% in his first year of eligibility, and finally crossed the 75% threshold in his 14th year after a dedicated campaign on his behalf conducted through the internet. Once again, voters express their disgust with avowed steroid users, as Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, both members of the 500 home run club, finish well down on the ballot.
Andre Dawson, an outfielder with the Expos and Cubs, becomes the 203rd player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Joining ‘Hawk’ in Cooperstown are former manager Whitey Herzog, major league ump Doug Harvey, broadcaster Jon Miller, and baseball writer Bill Madden.
Jon Miller, who has been broadcasting San Francisco Giants games since 1997, is this year’s Ford Frick Award winner. Widely respected for his work, Miller broadcast games for four teams prior to working for the Giants, including those of the Baltimore Orioles from 1983 to 1996. Since 1990, he has described ESPN’s nationally-televized Sunday night game in partnership with Joe Morgan.
Andre Dawson, “The Hawk”, is elected to the Hall of Fame getting 77.9% of the votes cast by the BBWAA. P Bert Blyleven and 2B Roberto Alomar fall agonizingly short of election, missing the honor by 5 and 8 votes respectively. Dawson, the 1987 National League MVP, played 21 seasons in the majors, principally with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs, hitting .279 with 438 home runs, 1591 RBI and 314 stolen bases.
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