Baseball Hall of Fame Selection

On Wednesday January 8, 2014 the BBWAA will select the Baseball Hall of Famers for 2014. The Baseball Hall of Fame is the most prestigious Hall of Fames in sports today. Baseball has stuck by the idea that this place is for those who were not just great, but the best of the best. Other sports have turned their Hall of Fames as more of a Hall of Great. The Baseball Hall of Fame should not just be based off statistics but off domination as , if a player has 3,000hits but never dominated the league, are they a Hall of Fame player? A Hall of Famer is an individual who in my opinion dominates the league at his position for a period of time that is longer then 7years, this meaning those who are the best two or three at their positions and proved it year after year. Consideration should also take place of an entire career as well.The main idea is players should not be compared to those who played during a completely different era, thereby allowing skewed opinions not occur. Below is what would be my selection of those Hall of Famers that should get in this year and reasons why:

Domination:

 1. Greg Maddux Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux, is first and foremost the most dominating pitcher available on this years ballot. Greg Maddux showed his dominance, not only on the field, but through statistics as well. Greg Maddux's career statistics include: 355 Wins,3371 Strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.16. In Greg Maddux's career he finished in the top 5 in CY Young 9 times, winning 4 straight CY Young Award's through that span. Maddux was clearly the best player at his position during his playing top, and proved himself among Cooperstown's elites, and should be a no doubt 100% of the vote Hall of Fame player. Greg Maddux had the ability to get inside the heads of batters, making the best hitters look foolish at the plate. Maddux an 8-time all-star was the type of pitcher who thought about his next pitch,trying to set up a batter for failure. Greatness did not just show through the pitching of Maddux as well as fielding. Greg Maddux was a 18-time Gold Glove player, this is proof in itself that this guy is not just a Hall of Famer, he is an all-time great player in the top 3. This man is a no doubt Hall of Fame player, and should be looked at as the greatest of all-time.

2. Alan Trammell Alan Trammell was the most dominating offensive threat at the shortstop position during his playing time. In my belief, and if you ask many GM's during that time period they would've had no problem trading Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith for Alan Trammell. Tramell, wasn't the purest fielder nor was he ever the best fielder at his position. However, in saying that he held his own at the position fielding wise, being a four-time Gold Glove shortstop. Trammell made up for any fielding miss ques that he may have had, at the plate. Trammell has 2,365 career hits, 185 career home-runs, and a .285 batting average. Alan Trammell has more career home-runs, a higher batting average, and finished more times in the top ten for MVP then Ozzie Smith. A player like Trammell was truly the most dominate at their position and should be a Hall of Fame player. He showed greatness on and off the field and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

 3. Jeff Kent In my opinion Jeff Kent falls under the same category as Alan Trammell, a guy that was dominate in the hitting portion of his position, however not seen as a great fielder. Jeff Kent compares greatly with Hall of Fame second baseman, Joe Morgan. Jeff Kent dominated his position with the bat, and should be considered the best hitting second baseman of all-time. He could out hit anyone around him during the time period, and won an MVP award. Kent hit over 20hrs 12times, as well as finishing in the top ten for the MVP award 4 times. In comparison of Joe Morgan, Kent has 100 less hits, has 100 more home-runs, and has a batting average that is 20 points more. Jeff Kent was the best hitter at his position and should be a Hall of Fame player, and saying he was not a great fielder is sad due to the fact that Morgan was only a 4 time Gold Glove winner. Jeff Kent should be viewed as a Hall of Fame player.

4. Frank Thomas The final guy I have on the Hall of Fame ballot for pure domination is the Big Hurt. Frank Thomas earned the nickname the Big Hurt for all the right reasons. Thomas "hurt" every pitcher that he faced, making them fearful to face a guy like him. Frank Thomas had a pure swing and a pure heart, he impressed everyone who watched him. There was not a pitcher that could get around Frank Thomas, he dominated the pitchers that he faced and proved himself worthy of the Hall of Fame. Thomas had the ability to launch a baseball over 500feet when he wanted too, he affected the game in a different way. Frank Thomas finished in the top 10 for the MVP award 9times, winning it twice. Thomas was also a 5-time all-star, with 521 career home-runs and a .301 batting average. Frank Thomas is a true no doubt Hall of Fame player, due to the fact he dominated a league when it was full of Steroid players and he was clean.

Guys that will get in eventually, due to steroids won't now: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mike Piazza all great players.

-Brett