2008 MLB Hall of Fame Candidates
Jim Rice, Goose Gossage and Andre Dawson Have Their Best Chances Yet
Nov 28, 2007
This could finally be the year that Goose Gossage makes the Hall of Fame. Jim Rice and Andre Dawson also have their best chances yet to gain induction into Cooperstown. On the other hand, there does not appear to be any legitimate contenders among those whose names appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.
David Justice Heads List of First-Timers
Eleven players appear on the ballot for the first time. Among them, only Dave Justice and Tim Raines appear to be viable candidates. Justice, who retired after the 2002 season, finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .279, hit 305 home runs and drove in 1,017 RBI. Justice won the 1990 Rookie of the Year award, made three All-Star teams and was a member of two World Series winners. While his career numbers and accomplishments are impressive, they are not as strong as at least three hitters who are also on the ballot, including fellow first-timer Tim Raines.
Tim Raines
Tim "Rock" Raines hit .294 during, won the 1986 batting title and topped .300 in batting average eight times during his 23-year career. He also stole 808 bases, which is the fifth most in history.
The Rock made seven straight All-Star teams from 1981 through 1987, and won the game's MVP award in '87. He ranks 68th in career hits with 2,605 and 46th in runs scored with 1,571. Raines also ranks 40th all-time in reaching base during his career.
While his career totals are better than many players who are already in the Hall of Fame, Raines probably won't get more than 25% of the vote because, arguably, most of his credentials are attributable to his long career rather than any period of sustained dominance.
Jim Rice
Rice is in his 14th year of eligibility. To gain induction, he must garner 75% of the votes. Last year, he earned 63.4% in a very competitive class that included Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn on the ballot for the first time. Without that level of players among first-timers this year, Rice's odds should increase, and many believe that he deserves induction.
In his sixteen year career, Rice hit .298 with 389 home runs and 1,451 RBI. He made eight All-Star teams and topped 100 RBI in eight seasons. He also placed in the top five in MVP voting in six different seasons and won the award in 1978 when he hit .315 with 213 hits, 15 triples, 46 home runs and 139 RBI.
Rice has come very close in recent years. Without any surefire inductees ahead of him, he has an excellent chance to finally gain induction.
Andre Dawson
Dawson, now in his seventh year of eligibility, won 56.7% of the vote last year. His continued failure to win induction is a bit questionable. The Hawk won the Rookie of the Year award in 1977. He won the MVP in 1987 and finished second in 1981 and 1983. Dawson also won eight Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers and made eight All-Star teams during his career.
His final numbers are certainly worthy of serious consideration: 2,774 hits, 503 doubles, 438 home runs and 1,579 RBI. Finally, Dawson is one of five players to hit more than 400 home runs and steal more than 300 bases during his career.
Goose Gossage May Finally Gain Induction to the Hall of Fame
Gossage fell just 21 shorts of induction last year. He will very likely pick up those votes this year. Gossage played most of his career well before the era of the one-inning closer, and yet he was still able to collect 310 career saves. Gossage made nine all-Star teams and won the 1978 Reliever of the Year award.
The Goose was also a brilliant postseason pitcher. In 19 appearances with the Yankees and the Padres, Gossage posted a 2-1 record with 8 saves, a 2.87 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.
His time has probably come. Expect to see Gossage and Jim Rice making speeches in Cooperstown on July 28, 2008. Dawson will porbably have to wait at least another year. Justice and Raines, both of whom were great players, probably aren't Hall of Fame-worthy.
Mark McGwire
Now that it is becoming clear that many, many players abused steroids during the 1990s and early 2000s, one of the most interesting questions in this year's vote is whether the voters will give suspected juicer (but 583 home run man) Mark McGwire greater support than the 25% he earned last year.
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The other nine first timers on the ballot are Rod Beck, Brady Anderson, Chuck Finley, Shawon Dunston, Travis Fryman, Chuck Knoblauch, Rob Nen, Todd Stottlemyre, and Jose Rijo.
