MLB Hall of Fame Balloting Snubs

Ted Williams and Casey Stengel pose with their Hall of Fame plaques in Cooperstown, N.Y. , July, 1966

Photo Credit: AP

***

I agree, wholeheartedly, that Ichiro Suzuki should have been voted into the Hall of Fame ballot unanimously, but so too, should the following legends.

Just Remember:

• In 1953, Joe DiMaggio was passed over on his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot, coming in eighth with 117 votes out of a possible 264. Interestingly, it wouldn’t be until 1955 (his third try) when Joltin Joe’ was finally elected to the Hall of Fame with 223 out of a possible 251 votes.

• Mr. Chicago, Ernie Banks was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 with only 83.81 percent of the vote (321 votes on 383 ballots).

• Jackie Robinson entered the Hall with only 77.5 percent of the vote in 1962 (124 of 160), just 2.5 percent over the required 75 percent for induction. In that same class, Cleveland Indians flame thrower, Bob Feller, “Rapid Robert,” received 150 out of 160 votes, 93.75 percent.

• Willie Mays was snubbed by 23 voters in 1979 (94.68 percent); and a whopping 52 members didn’t think Sandy Koufax was worthy of the Hall, giving the Dodger southpaw 86.87 percent of the vote in 1972.

• “The Splendid Splinter,” Ted Williams received only 282 of 302 votes in 1966, giving him 93.4 percent of the vote.

• 11 writers, if you can imagine that, left Babe Ruth, “The Sultan of Swat’’ off their HOF ballots, giving him 95.13 percent of the vote.

• Hank Aaron, who belted 755 home runs in his celebrated career, earned 97.8 percent of the vote with nine members of the Baseball Writers Association opting not to vote for him on the 1982 Hall of Fame ballot.

• Ty Cobb collected 222 of a possible 226 votes, a 98.2 percentage.

Knowing these greats were far from unanimous, I think we can live with one sports writer deciding not to vote for Ichiro, as exceptional as he was.

 

--Bill Lucey

January 23, 2025

[email protected] 

Source: Baseball Reference

Comments

[Mike A]

Amazing that all of these guys were snubbed by several writers.
Frankly inexcusable