Coming Attractions?: The 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

Yesterday, Major League Baseball officially released the group of former players that will comprise the 2014 Baseball of Fame ballot. The class will be announced on January 8^th, and while unlike last year, there are sure to be a few players that are inducted in this season, the ongoing saga of who deserves the honor and who does not will continue on, for a variety of reasons.

Ten players can be selected on each ballot, and from the looks of the available talent, there could be a wide range of reactions to what is offered. There are what could be considered the no-doubters, mixed with a few “no doubt second ballot” guys, the vote that goes ignores the controversy, as well as a few with stronger showings than would be guessed. Add all of that in with both the Expansion Era Committee members (which features maybe the finest group of eligible managers available in history), and this could be a one of the most diverse classes ever inducted into the Hall.

But while the manager group could be the frosting, its the players that are cake of a class, and this year’s ballot alone has some of the most premient names in not only their era, but across the history of the game, from its start to finish. Will the controversy of last year be buried? Or will the line to the Hall continue to get longer and longer? With Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz scheduled to join the mix next season, this could be the greatest era of legends waiting for their immortality ever.

But for now, here’s what’s to pick from over the next month, as the wait for to see what course history takes starts moving yet again.

THE PLAYERS

Jeff Bagwell—First Baseman: Houston Astros (1991-2005), 4^th ballot (59.6%)

1994 MVP, 4-time All-Star, 449 home runs, 1529 RBI, 488 doubles, 2314 hits

Craig Biggio—Second Baseman: Houston Astros (1988-2007), 2^nd ballot (68.2%)

3,060 hits, .281 career average, 668 doubles, 414 stolen bases, 7-time All-Star, 4-Gold Glover

Barry Bonds—Left Fielder: Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants (1986-2007), 2^nd ballot (36.2%)

7-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, 762 home runs, 2935 hits, 2227 runs, 2558 walks

Roger Clemens—Pitcher: Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Houston Astros (1984-2007), 2^nd ballot (37.6%)

7-time Cy Young Winner, 1986 MVP, 354-184 record, 3.12 ERA, 4672 strikeouts

Tom Glavine—Pitcher: Atlanta Braves, New York Mets (1987-2008), 1^st ballot

2-time Cy Young Winner, 305-203 record, 3.54 ERA, 10-time All-Star

Jeff Kent—Second Baseman: Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, LA Dodgers (1992-2008), 1^st ballot

2000 MVP, 5-time All-Star, 377 home runs, .290 average, 1518 RBI

Greg Maddux—Pitcher: Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres (1986-2008), 1^st ballot

4-time Cy Young Winner, 355-227 record, 3.16 ERA, 3,371 strikeouts, 18-time Gold Glove Winner

Edgar Martinez—Designated Hitter: Seattle Mariners (1987-2004), 5^th ballot (35.9%)

7-time All-Star, .312 career average, 2,247 hits, 2-time Batting Champ

Don Mattingly—First Baseman: New York Yankees (1982-1995), 14^th ballot (13.2%)

1984 MVP, .307 career average, 442 doubles, 2153 hits, 9-time Gold Glove winner

Fred McGriff—First Baseman: Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers (1986-2004), 5^th ballot (20.7%)

493 home runs, 2490 hits, 5-time All-Star, 1550 RBI

Mark McGwire—First Baseman: Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals (1987-2001), 8^th ballot (16.9%)

583 home runs, 12-time All-Star, four 50 home run seasons, 1987 Rookie of the Year

Jack Morris—Pitcher: Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians (1977-1994), 15^th ballot (67.7%)

4-Time World Series Winner, 254-186 record, 2478 strikeouts, Most wins of 1980’s

Mike Mussina—Pitcher: Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees (1991-2008), 1^st ballot

270-153 record, 3.68 ERA, 7-time Gold Glove winner, AL-record 17 straight double digit win years

Rafael Palmeiro—First Baseman: Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles (1986-2005), 4^th ballot (8.8%)

569 home runs, 3020 hits, 1835 RBI, .288 career average, nine straight years of 38+ home runs

Mike Piazza—Catcher: Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics (1992-2007), 2^nd ballot (57.8%)

427 home runs, 2127 hits, .308 average, 1993 Rookie of the Year, 12-time All-Star

Tim Raines—Left Fielder: Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins (1978-2002), 7^th ballot (52.2%)

808 stolen bases, 2605 hits, 1571 runs scored, 7-time All-Star, 1986 NL Batting Champ

Curt Schilling-Pitcher: Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox (1988-2007), 2^nd ballot (38.8%)

216-146 record, 3.46 ERA, 3116 strikeouts, 6-time All-Star, 11-2 Postseason Record

Lee Smith-Pitcher: Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos (1980-1987), 12^th ballot (47.8%)

478 saves, 802 games finished, 7-time All-Star, 3-time Rolaids Relief Man of the Year

Sammy Sosa—Right Fielder: Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers (1989-2005, 2007), 2^nd ballot (12.5%)

1998 MVP, 609 home runs, 7-time All-Star, 1667 RBI, 2408 hits

Frank Thomas—First Baseman: Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays (1990-2008), 1^st ballot

2-Time MVP, 521 home runs, 2468 hits, .301 career average, 1997 Batting Champion

Alan Trammell—Shortstop: Detroit Tigers (1977-1996), 13^th ballot (33.6%)

2365 hits, .285 average, 6-time All-Star, 4-time Gold Glove winner, 1984 World Series MVP

Larry Walker—Right Fielder: Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals (1989-2005), 4^th ballot (21.6%)

1997 MVP, 3-time Batting Champ, .313 career average, 383 home runs, 7-time Gold Glove Winner

Other First Time Candidates: Moises Alou, Armando Benitez, Sean Casey, Ray Durham, Eric Gagne, Luis Gonzalez, Jacque Jones, Todd Jones, Paul Lo Duca, Hideo Nomo, Kenny Rogers, Richie Sexson, J.T. Snow, Mike Timlin