2010 Hall of Fame Ballot, Part 2.

• Andre Dawson (OF) - .279 BA, 2774 hits, 438 HRs, 1591 RBIs, 314 SBs, 8 All-Star Games, 8 Gold Gloves, Rookie of the Year, 4 Top 10 MVP finishes (1 win, 2 seconds). There is enough evidence on his resume to suggest he was one of the best outfielders during his career, and I'm not sure I have a valid argument against him. Considering the offensive jump in statistics came as he was leaving the game, his combination of power and speed are better than anyone other than Barry and Bobby Bonds. I'll discuss him further under the Tim Raines section. What the voters will do: Andre will set a record for coming the closest to entering the HOF without doing it, missing by a single vote. What the voters should do: Just let him into Cooperstown!
  

• Andrés Galarraga (1B) - .288 BA, 2333 hits, 399 HRs, 1425 RBIs, 5 All Star Games, 2 Gold Gloves, 6 Top 10 MVP finishes (never higher than 6th). El Gran Gato would be a first ballot HOFer if the qualifications were for heart, as Galarraga came back from cancer to have a decent season in 2000 for the Braves. He won a batting title, a home run title and 2 RBI titles during his career, becoming one of only a handful of players to achieve that distinction, and only he, A-Rod and Bonds have done it in the last twenty years. Unfortunately for Andrés, he played in the launching pad of Colorado, which reduces the value of his power numbers with the voters, and his career coincided with the HR boom years of the 90s, the biggest offensive explosion in baseball since the 1920s. 500 HRs might get a player in these days, but not 400. What the voters will do: Many will give Galarraga a vote this time around out of respect for the great man, and he will be back on the ballot in 2011. What the voters should do: I have no problem with it, but I expect his numbers to drop significantly next year.

• Pat Hentgen (P) - (131-112), 1290 K's, 4.32 ERA, 3 All-Star games, 1 Cy Young win (and 1 6th place finish). I expect Hentgen wouldn't have made this list if it weren't for that Cy Young season, and what a season it was. In 1996 he went 20-1o with a 3.22 ERA for the Blue Jays, leading the league in shutouts, complete games and innings pitched. The next year at age 28 he again led the league in IP with 264, and he was never the same pitcher again. He only had one season after that with an ERA under 4, and was often injured. I still wonder how the pitchers of the 60s, 70s and 80s were able to throw 300 IP in a season. Someday I hope to do research on it. In an unrelated sidebar, Hentgen is the first player on the HOF ballot who is younger than me. Excuse me while I kill myself. What the voters will do: One and done. What the voters should do: Like his Cy Young win, one and done.

• Mike Jackson (P) - (62-67), 3.42 ERA, ....?? A decent reliever who lasted from age 21 to 39 in the majors (while missing a couple of years due to injury and suffering statistics, I'm not sure how Jackson qualifies for the HOF ballot. I think Tim Kurkjian might be the only one to give him a vote (he votes for everyone), all the time while giving Mr. Jackson a blowjob. What the voters will do: One and done. What Tim Kurkjian will do: Pretend it's Shoeless Joe Jackson and wipe his mouth when he's done.