My Unofficial Hall of Fame Ballot for 2025

 Doing this post every year, I've been here for booms and lulls in terms of Baseball Hall of Fame classes. The class of 2014, which brought in undeniable heroes Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas and Tom Glassine in one fell swoop, as well as the class of 2015, which inducted John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson, came on the heels of several weak HOF classes, most crucially the 2007 class, where nobody got in [mostly in protest of the steroid guys]. Lately we've been in a similar lull, with a lot of recoup years, a lot of small classes, and another nothing year in 2021. Last year was a starrier year, but we knew it was going to eventually lead to this pack coming next.

In the next three or four years, all of Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Yadier Molina, Buster Posey and Zack Greinke will all be joining HOF ballots and probably getting in. There are some big classes approaching for the BBHOF. 2025's will be the first. Because there's definitely one all-time MLB titan going in this year, and he's not going in alone.

As usual, I'll be filling out a Hall of Fame ballot as I would if I were a registered member of the writer's guild. I'm allowing myself up to 10 names, and thinking clearly about which of these players I'd seriously consider for induction in the Hall of Fame. The question I constantly ask is 'can the story of baseball be told without this player'. Not everyone asks this; Harold Baines and Jim Kaat are in after all. But with most of the people I include in these posts, they're integral to the history of the sport. 

Bobby Abreu

This is one of those where, at least for another couple years, it's really just gonna be me championing him. Right now there are enough bandwagon cases on the bracket [Andruw, Beltran, Wagner, Utley] that I don't know if Abreu will get the attention he deserves. Hell, he's not even the most deserving ex-2005 Phillie on here. I've put him on here because he was one of the best hitting outfielders of the 2000s, was a multi-tool guy for some great Phillies teams, and had that uncanny ability to get hits at all costs. The argument can be made that his peak period happened A.) for a bad team and B.) for too small an increment of time, but I still think his numbers, especially from '99 to '06, say more than people are thinking. 400 steals, nearly 2500 hits, nearly 300 homers, career .291 average? That's not something to completely ignore. It's not gonna happen this year, or next, but hopefully his case surfaces eventually. 

Team of Induction: Philadelphia Phillies

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 10%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 30%

Carlos Beltran

It's looking like the period of shaming Beltran for cheating is coming to an end. Because if he'd retired after the 2016 season, he'd be in already, and probably still managing the Mets [what a world that'd be..]. Helping the Astros cheat their way to a title ruined what was looking like a surefire HOF case, and thus what should have happened on the first ballot has taken two or three. But the polls so far are indicating that if it doesn't happen this year, it probably will in 2026. Beltran has a career 70 WAR, 2725 hits, 435 homers and 1587 RBIs, the most by a non-juicer on the ballot. He made the Cardinals competitive after Pujols, he made the Astros and Mets playoff teams in the 2000s, and had one last exceptional year for the Yankees in 2016. He deserves to be in. It remains to be seen if the shaming will be over this year or run for one more, but I think this is finally lifting.

Team of Induction: Kansas City Royals

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 70%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 92%

Felix Hernandez

It should be simple. From 2007 til 2015, Felix Hernandez was among the top two pitchers in the AL. Him and Verlander, with Kluber approaching late and Sabathia threatening below. In this period, Felix had a 3 ERA, 127 wins, a 45.8 WAR and 1889 strikeouts. With 23 complete games and 10 shutouts. This, for the record, represents the entirety of Felix's 20s. Like many, his appeal was dulled once he turned 30, and his velocity and punch were nowhere near peak levels. But the strength of Felix during his peak years should be enough to get him in, as Buster Posey will be facing a similar question in a few years [and probably getting in], and Roy Halladay also was inducted despite a sharp drop-off to end his career. It's gonna take two or three more years than it should to get everybody else onboard Felix's HOF case, and that's honestly criminal. Remember how I made a whole stink in 2010 that C.C. Sabathia deserved the Cy Young over Felix? He didn't. Felix was the more dominant pitcher, as he was throughout that whole era. 

Team of Induction: Seattle Mariners

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 15%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 61%

Andruw Jones

Yeah, speaking of peak years, Andruw Jones might get in before Felix does on the strength of his peak years, and I'm not entirely sure if it deserves to go in that order. I've discussed Jones' case on here before, his 20s provided some of the best defense in the game and some of the best power in the game. The turnoff is everything he did after 2006. Even with that in mind, his stuff as a bench guy in New York in Chicago and New York in the early 2010s was pretty damn good too. Clearly he wasn't 2005-era Andruw, but he was still helpful. If Helton, Piazza and Thome are in, to represent that early 2000s NL battery, then Andruw should probably be in too.

Team of Induction: Atlanta Braves

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 48%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 87%

Jimmy Rollins

Like Abreu this is mostly my Philly bias but I genuinely think J-Rol was the best shortstop in the NL during the 2000s. Rollins had that x-factor, both from a personality standpoint and a gameplay standpoint, that just lifted his stuff above the average. He was a joy to watch in the field, a brutal contact hitter, and a beloved clubhouse leader wherever he went. There's a reason why Ryan Howard, who was the starrier name during this period, is off the ballot but Rollins remains; Rollins was more consistent, more versatile, and had no disappointing cool-off period. Some may argue he wasn't 'truly great' enough, and that's fair, but I think he's one of the best representations of the 2008 Phils team, and he should eventually get in.

Team of Induction: Philadelphia Phillies

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 12% 

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 50%

C.C. Sabathia

C.C. Sabathia will be entering the Hall of Fame as one of the last of a dying breed of pitcher, finishing his career with 250 wins and 3000 strikeouts. Due to the expanded rotations, as well as the rise in overthrowing and conditioning, we may never get as many 300 game winners, or even 250 game winners, as we used to in the 70s. But Sabathia managed to be a truly reliable ace for two full decades, mowing down batters with Cleveland in the 2000s and becoming a rotation mainstay with the Yankees in the 2010s. I have respect for Sabathia's ability to go from a hard thrower to a trickster in his waning years. I saw him pitch in 2017, and he kept the Cardinals at bay without overexerting himself, which is the sign of a masterful, and smart, pitcher. The 3000 K thing ensured CC's enshrinement, but I think it's still clear just how good CC was throughout his career, and I think it'll be an earned induction today. 

Team of Induction: New York Yankees

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 100%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 100%

Ichiro Suzuki

There shouldn't be much question. Ichiro Suzuki is one of the greatest pure athletes to play baseball in general. Getting 18 seasons of him in the MLB feels miraculous. That he played into his 40s with the same drive, attitude and regiment that made him a star in Japan speaks to his incredible power. The man finished his career with a total of 4367 hits, split between Japan and America. He made 10 All Star teams, won 10 Gold Gloves, won an MVP and a Rookie of the Year simultaneously, retired with a .311 average, and remained in the MLB long enough to retire while spurning on the next generation of Japanese athletes in 2019. Ichiro shouldn't just be a Hall of Famer, he should have his own wing. 

Team of Induction: Seattle Mariners

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 100%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 5,000%

Chase Utley

Clearing a few of the hangers-on from the ballot is gonna do a lot for Chase Utley, undeniably the best 2nd baseman of his generation and one of the best pure hitters of the 2000s. It's looking like Utley's vote count will exceed 100 this year, meaning there's a good chance he crosses 50% and starts headed for that all-important 75. And even with another 2008 Phillie joining the ballot next year and Ian Kinsler's case making some people think this year, I do think Utley is ultimately bound for the Hall of Fame. It's just not going to be immediate. It can't be ignored, however, that from 2005 to 2010, Utley had a 45.5 WAR. Russell Martin, who got a lot of sportswriter support this winter, finished his career with a 38.8 WAR. Utley's peak is one of the most prolific peak periods of his era, and that's without even factoring in his 25 postseason RBIs and 10 postseason home runs in that period. Utley was not only good, he was the difference maker between good teams and great teams; you can directly tie the Phillies' rise to his presence on the team, and their fall to his injuries and cooling off. I think Utley deserves to be in, and hopefully it just takes another couple years of this to get other people onto this idea.

Team of Induction: Philadelphia Phillies

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 34%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 76%

Billy Wagner

It took ten years, way longer than I thought, but I think it's finally time for Billy Wagner to get in this year. The way he's polling it looks extremely likely, and though there's always a chance the percentage snaps shut with the flood of open ballots, it's looking like the numbers are on his side finally. What has helped Wagner stay on the ballot, and ultimately slide towards induction, is the fact that after Rivera, Hoffman and Smith got in, there just weren't many other truly great closers up for consideration. K-Rod is still on the ballot, and statistically he probably has the numbers, but he can't do this with Wagner still here. Fernando Rodney's on the ballot this year, he's not a HOFer. The next two 'possibly' guys will be Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel, and that'll be an interesting conversation. Ultimately, Billy Wagner was a lights-out closer for 15 years, was untouchable with Houston, and is one of the most consistent relief pitchers of his era. Keeping him out means insinuating that there are better options around, and there is no evidence to this. I think it's happening this year, and if for some reason it doesn't then the Veterans Committee will probably make it happen eventually.

Team of Induction: Houston Astros

% Chance of 2025 Induction: 97%

% Chance of Eventual Induction: 89%

The way it's looking right now, Ichiro, CC and Wagner are in, and Beltran could go either way. He very well may squeak in, I'm not 100% sure he will but it's possible. So that's 3 or 4 names now, and they're big names. Next year might not be as prolific, but it'll sure be interesting.