2008 HOF Ballot - who would you vote in and why?

Of those players, this year I would put the most deserving in this order:

1.) Bert Blyleven -- # 5 all-time strike outs, 280+ wins. No reason he shouldn't have been voted in before now.

2.) Tim Raines -- best stolen base to caught stealing in history. One of the speed icons.

3.) Tommy John -- would have been a 300 game winner except he had to take time off to have a surgery named after him.

4.) Jim Rice -- too dark for the town he played in -- Boston. He towered over his peers in slugging when he played.

5.) Lee Smith -- epitome of the closer. Had the all-time record for saves for 2 decades (or close).

6.) Jack Morris -- most under rated pitcher of his day. Regular and post season giant.

7.) Goose Gossage -- popularized the closer along with Sparky Lyle. An icon

It's unrealistic to think more than those could be elected in, and I don't suppose the chicken-headed writers will agree with me anyway.

Biggest names not even on the ballot: Ron Santo, Thurmon Munson, Roger Maris.

Bert Blyleven

Dave Concepcion

Andre Dawson

Rich "Goose" Gossage

Tommy John

Mark McGwire

Jack Morris

Dale Murphy

Dave Parker

Tim Raines

Lee Smith

Alan Trammell

Ok this is my condensed list. I removed the players that I felt didn't belong for some reason or another.

Bert Blyleven---Best pitcher outside of hall

Dave Concepcion---best SS of his era

Andre Dawson---if not for knee problems would be in

Rich "Goose" Gossage--Great reliever if Sutter is in Goose should be

Tommy John---I consider him someone to be good for a long time, but rarely great

Mark McGwire---Most feared hitter of the roid era pre-Bonds.

Jack Morris---Big game pitcher but stats really are somewhat ugly

Dale Murphy--Great for a short period of time

Dave Parker--Very good for a long period of time

Tim Raines---If not for Rickie Henderson would be in the best lead off hitter discussion

Lee Smith--Held career saves mark. Don't think its enough

Alan Trammell--one of the best SS of his era, because its right before A-Rod and rest and around Ripken and Larkin he's overlooked alot.

With that my three are the following, though I think more are deserving then these three.

Bert Blyleven

Mark McGwire

and a homer pick

Dave Concepcion--he's already as good as some SS's in the hall and he's nearing his eligiblity run as well.

i give my three votes to the guys getting no love, Bret Blyleven, Andre Dawson, and Don Mattingly

I don't know how Blyleven has been left off in the past. His stats are unbelievable. He had 287 career wins and was one of the last in an era of pitchers actually going the distance and finishing their job!!! Some people complain about his 250 loses, but it is not his fault he got bad run support. he had 3 years with 17 loses early in his career. In those 3 years his ERA was 2.73, 2.52, and 2.66 respectively, not his fault.

Andre Dawson was one of the best power hitters in a shady era, but look at the man, pure skin and bones, I'm not too worried about him testing positive... In his fantastic career he hit 438 Home Runs, with a solid average of .279, not too say his only weapon was power. He stole 314 bases in his career as well. The only reason he did not end up with 500 home runs was due to the horrible turf in Montreal destroying his back, great player, no recognition.

Final Pick is a legend, Don Mattingly. Although his stats may lie about how great he was, anyone that saw that man play, knows he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He had over 2000 career hits and a career .307 average. He barely ever struck out recording over 100 more walks than strikeouts in his career. He was a beauty to watch at first base, graceful to say the least. He deserves to be there, and we all know it.

Goose Gossage came so close last year. I would like to see him get in this year because Bruce Sutter got in 2005 and he was closer. In his prime, Gossage would save games for 2 and 3 innings and not just one, like most of today's closers.

Of all the players on this list, I'd say we'll definetely see him get in this year.

Blyleven, great pitcher that deserves the Hall

Gossage, he is as good if not better than Sutter

Big Game Jack Morris, great pitcher who revived his career at the end for some more grreat years after his great career in Detroit!

* Jim Rice

* Rich Gossage

* Don Mattingly

Well, if I only get three votes...

Blyleven -- underappreciated in his own time and still today. Genuinely great pitcher for an extended period (career totals prove this out, though I look at seasons more). Overdue.

Gossage -- one of the great closer-relievers when the role was being defined. Palpable sense of doom when he came out of the bullpen. Tuff, tuff pitcher.

McGwire -- league leading power AND on-base ability for an extended period. It didn't all come from a bottle.

If I can cast a fourth vote, it goes to...

Raines -- played like 92% of Rickey Henderson, and that's Hall-class performance.

Definitely Goose Gossage because he has been waiting for years to be inducted.

Another one that should be inducted, but not on your list, is a posthumous induction for Roger Maris. After all, he did break Babe Ruth's home run record without steroids.

If I could only vote for 3, it woudl be Blyleven, Raines and Gossage.

JIm Rice, Mark Mcguire, and Rich "goose" Gossage

go sox