The Latest Breaking News from BBWAA

It seems that longevity gets overlooked when it comes to the Hall of Fame. Plenty of guys who play for years past their peaks are dismissively referred to as compilers, especially if their best years were less impressive than those of players with high peaks but shorter careers. That is…

In his final year of eligibility, the all-time leader in home runs for second basemen deserves to be enshrined.

CHICAGO — After years of debate over the Hall of Fame worthiness of players linked to performance-enhancing drugs, baseball’s Steroids Era stands trial this weekend in San Diego at the 2022 winter meetings.

Barry Bonds was kept out of Cooperstown via the traditional route, but the Hall of Fame’s doors haven’t completely shut on baseball’s controversial home run king.

The 28-player list includes leading returning vote-getter Scott Rolen, top newcomer Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez, whose support has been limited by his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Any players elected will be inducted into the Hall at Cooperstown on July 23.

Former White Sox slugger Albert Belle is also on the ballot for the Hall of Fame’s contemporary baseball era committee.

CHICAGO — Former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was the only player on the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot to be elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

This is the last Five-Tool Newsletter before the results of the BBWAA Hall of Fame election are announced, so I’ll be revealing my hypothetical ballot today. Sure, it has no bearing on the actual process, but it’s fun. And as the lockout drags on, there aren’t too many better things…