The Ballots: 2022

Any MLB Alumnus who is interested in participating, please reach out to me at rmspaeder@gmail.com or simply direct message me on twitter @theaceofspaeder. I have setup a backdoor page on my website where you can seamlessly cast your ballot, and it allows you the option to do so publicly or anonymously. The goal here is to fix a broken system and ensure that MLB Alumni have a say as to who goes into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Percentage of votes (unlimited choices):

1. Barry Bonds – 83.3%
2. Roger Clemens – 81.5%
3. David Ortiz – 64.8% (70.4%)
4. Todd Helton – 64.8% (68.5%)
5. Curt Schilling – 63.0% (66.7%)
6. Andruw Jones – 58.5%
7. Gary Sheffield – 53.7%
8. Manny Ramirez – 51.9% (57.4%)
9. Billy Wagner – 50.0% (57.4%)
10. Sammy Sosa – 46.3% (48.1%)
11. Scott Rolen – 43.4% (47.2%)
12. Alex Rodriguez – 38.9% (40.7%)
13. Jeff Kent – 37.0% (40.7%)
14. Omar Vizquel – 33.3% (38.9%)
15. Andy Pettitte – 16.7% (18.5%)
16. Jimmy Rollins – 13.0% (16.7%)
17. Torii Hunter – 9.3% (13.0%)
18. Bobby Abreu – 7.4% (13.0%)
19. Tim Lincecum – 7.4% (9.3%)
20. Mark Buehrle – 3.7% (7.4%)
21. Tim Hudson – 3.7% (7.4%)
22. Prince Fielder – 3.7%
23. Ryan Howard – 3.7%
24. Carl Crawford – 1.9%
25. Justin Morneau – 1.9%
26. Jake Peavy – 1.9%
27. Joe Nathan – 0.0% (1.9%)
28. All others – 0.0%

Ballot No. 54 – Cody Asche

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. David Ortiz
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Scott Rolen
9. Curt Schilling
10. Gary Sheffield

With unlimited votes, Asche would also include:

1. Jimmy Rollins
2. Bobby Abreu
3. Todd Helton
4. Billy Wagner
5. Omar Vizquel

“I don’t care about the steroid convictions, it was part of the game. Until someone can explain the difference between physical performance enhancers and mental performance enhancers, the argument to keep some out is flawed. Unless you can be 100 percent certain that no one in the Hall of Fame took anything ever, then you can’t use that as basis for vote or non-vote. Also, I would only consider Vizquel because Ozzie is in the Hall of Fame.”

Ballot No. 53 – Anonymous Former Texas Rangers All-Star

1. Todd Helton
2. Andruw Jones
3. Jeff Kent
4. David Ortiz
5. Scott Rolen
6. Curt Schilling
7. Billy Wagner

“I’d really like to dive deeper, but I don’t have the time… hard for me to understand how Schilling is not a lock with all the awards, success, etc. that he had.”

Ballot No. 52 – Anonymous Former Oakland Athletics Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Carl Crawford
3. Prince Fielder
4. Todd Helton
5. Torii Hunter
6. David Ortiz
7. Jimmy Rollins
8. Gary Sheffield

Ballot No. 51 – Geoff Blum

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Jeff Kent
5. Gary Sheffield
6. Billy Wagner

“The guys I chose were the players I felt played like Hall of Famers and who had the numbers to back it up. There are others on there that I feel will get in, but just haven’t convinced me within this current group. There are also others I felt cheated the game for their own selfish advancement and that I just don’t like – only one, that is, if we are being honest.”

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t include Blummer’s all-time quote from his first ever ballot (this being his fourth):

“Gary Sheffield scared the shit out of me when I was at third.”

Ballot No. 50 – Anonymous Current Hall of Fame Ballot Member

1. Bobby Abreu
2. Barry Bonds
3. Roger Clemens
4. Todd Helton
5. Andruw Jones
6. David Ortiz
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Scott Rolen
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Sammy Sosa

Ballot No. 49 – Anonymous Former Atlanta Braves Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. David Ortiz
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Jimmy Rollins
8. Gary Sheffield

“A-Rod is a douche.”

Ballot No. 48 – Kevin Frandsen

1. Bobby Abreu
2. Barry Bonds
3. Roger Clemens
4. Todd Helton
5. Andruw Jones
6. Jeff Kent
7. Scott Rolen
8. Curt Schilling
9. Omar Vizquel
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited votes, Franny would also include:

1. Jimmy Rollins
2. Manny Ramirez
3. David Ortiz

Ballot No. 47 – MIKE CAMERON

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Jeff Kent
6. David Ortiz
7. Scott Rolen
8. Curt Schilling
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited votes, Cammie would also vote for:

1. Torii Hunter
2. Bobby Abreu
3. Omar Vizquel
4. Many Ramirez
5. Alex Rodriguez

“I am a maybe on Sammy Sosa. I don’t know why Gary Sheffield doesn’t get the credit he deserves, and please save the ‘well he wasn’t that good in the outfield,’ dude was one of the most feared to play the game in that batter’s box… Respectfully!!”

Ballot No. 46 – Gary Bennett

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Jeff Kent
6. Scott Rolen
7. Curt Schilling
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited votes, Gary would also vote for:

1. Manny Ramirez

Ballot No. 45 – Anonymous Current Hall of Fame Ballot Member

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Jeff Kent
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Curt Schilling
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Billy Wagner

“I would also vote for Gil Hodges and Fred McGriff.”

Ballot No. 44 – Chris Gimenez

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Jeff Kent
4. Tim Lincecum
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Scott Rolen
8. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 43 – Jason Bulger

1. Bobby Abreu
2. Mark Buehrle
3. Todd Helton
4. Tim Hudson
5. Torii Hunter
6. Justin Morneau
   Jake Peavy
   Jimmy Rollins
   Omar Vizquel
   Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 42 – David Aardsma

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Jeff Kent
6. David Ortiz
7. Curt Schilling
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited votes, Aardsma would also include:

1. Bobby Abreu
2. Torii Hunter
3. Tim Lincecum
4. Omar Vizquel

“I draw a strong line with users. If something wasn’t illegal in the game when they got popped for it then they were playing by the rules of the game. Papi, Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Sheff all fall into this category for me. They are absolute studs that changed the game, every one of them. Manny and A-Rod are in a completely different conversation. They knew the rules of the game and they cheated those rules.

Schilling is a guy that has garnered a ton of strong opinions. It’s not called the Good Guy Hall of Fame, it’s about baseball. If you have a problem with the things he has done or things he said, go back and look at a few of the other guys that are already in the Hall. Get over it, he was one of the best postseason pitchers of all time and could easily have had two or three Cy Young Awards in his back pocket.

I am borderline on voting for Mark Teixeira, only because I truly loved watching him as a hitter. One of the best all-around hitters I have ever faced, No. 2 and 3 are Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter, respectively.

Ballot No. 41 – Anonymous Former Philadelphia Phillies Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Prince Fielder
4. Todd Helton
5. Ryan Howard
6. Tim Lincecum
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Alex Rodriguez
9. Curt Schilling
10. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 40 – Anonymous Former Miami Marlins Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. Jeff Kent
5. Scott Rolen
6. Curt Schilling

Ballot No. 39 – Anonymous Former Cincinnati Reds Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Scott Rolen
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Omar Vizquel
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited choices, ballplayer would also include:

1. Curt Schilling
2. Sammy Sosa
3. Jeff Kent

Ballot No. 38 – Anonymous Former Washington Nationals Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Jeff Kent
6. Scott Rolen
7. Gary Sheffield
8. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 37 – Kevin Youkilis

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Jeff Kent
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Curt Schilling
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Sammy Sosa

With unlimited choices, Youk would also include:

1. Billy Wagner

“PEDs are an issue on this list for many voters. While I don’t agree with the use of PEDs in baseball, I also believe that there are current Hall of Fame members who have used PEDs in the past. Amphetamines were a part of baseball since WWII and are now on the list of banned PEDs. That’s why my personal opinion is to vote for the best of the best based on their baseball numbers.”

Ballot No. 36 – Anonymous Former Cincinnati Reds All-Star

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Tim Lincecum
5. David Ortiz
6. Andy Pettitte
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Curt Schilling
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Sammy Sosa

Ballot No. 35 – Kyle Farnsworth

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Curt Schilling
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 34 – Bucky Jacobsen

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Scott Rolen
9. Curt Schilling
10. Billy Wagner

“I get that many of these guys cheated, but they still were dominate players of that era while many of their opponents were cheating as well. The true story of baseball can’t be correctly told without some of these guys included. Let’s not get it twisted the Hall of Fame is a museum of baseball’s best players, it’s not a sanctuary of guys that made the best decisions.”

Ballot No. 33 – Anonymous Former Texas Rangers Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Torii Hunter
4. Alex Rodriguez
5. Scott Rolen
6. Curt Schilling
7. Gary Sheffield
8. Sammy Sosa
9. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 32 – Peter Moylan

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. David Ortiz
5. Manny Ramriez
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Scott Rolen
8. Curt Schilling
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 31 – Seth McClung

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. David Ortiz
4. Curt Schilling
5. Gary Sheffield
6. Sammy Sosa

Ballot No. 30 – Aaron Sele

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Jeff Kent
4. David Ortiz
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Gary Sheffield
8. Sammy Sosa
9. Omar Vizquel
10. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 29 – Adam Kennedy

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. David Ortiz
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Gary Sheffield
7. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 28 – Jeff Cirillo

1. Todd Helton
2. Andruw Jones
3. Scott Rolen
4. Curt Schilling

Ballot No. 27 – Nick Green

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. Manny Ramirez
5. Alex Rodriguez
6. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 26 – Danny Sheaffer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. David Ortiz
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Curt Schilling
8. Sammy Sosa
9. Omar Vizquel
10. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 25 – Ben Grieve

1. Toddy Helton
2. David Ortiz
3. Scott Rolen

Ballot No. 24 – Eric Knott

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. David Ortiz
4. Manny Ramirez
5. Alex Rodriguez
6. Curt Schilling
7. Gary Sheffield
8. Sammy Sosa
9. Billy Wagner

“You can’t properly tell the story of baseball without putting Clemens, A-Rod, Bonds, Sosa, Man Ram, Sheff, Schilling, and Big Papi in the Hall of Fame. Their numbers and accomplishments speak for themselves. In my opinion, the Hall of Fame is incomplete without this group of players. Included Billy Wagner but couldn’t quite pull the trigger on Andruw Jones, Andy Pettitte, and Todd Helton.”

Ballot No. 23 – Gregg Zaun

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. David Ortiz
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Curt Schilling
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 22 – Ben Davis

1. Bobby Abreu
2. Barry Bonds
3. Roger Clemens
4. Jeff Kent
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Curt Schilling
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 21 – Anonymous Former Colorado Rockies Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. David Ortiz
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Curt Schilling
8. Sammy Sosa
9. Omar Vizquel
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited choices, ballplayer would also include:

1. Scott Rolen

Ballot No. 20 – Danny Graves

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. David Ortiz
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Scott Rolen
7. Jimmy Rollins
8. Curt Schilling
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 19 – Rajai Davis

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Torii Hunter
4. Andruw Jones
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Curt Schilling
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

With unlimited votes, Davis would also include:

1. Mark Buehrle
2. Todd Helton
3. Tim Hudson
4. Joe Nathan
5. David Ortiz
6. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 18 – Bob File

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Andruw Jones
4. Jeff Kent
5. David Ortiz
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Curt Schilling
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 17 – Anonymous Former Chicago Cubs Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. David Ortiz
6. Curt Schilling
7. Sammy Sosa

“I’d vote Pete Rose in… why not? MLB advertises betting all over the place these days.”

Ballot No. 16 – Mark Little

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Jeff Kent
6. Andy Pettitte
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Scott Rolen
9. Sammy Sosa

Ballot No. 15 – Matt Walbeck

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Jeff Kent
5. Scott Rolen
6. Jimmy Rollins
7. Curt Schilling

Ballot No. 14 – Jason Hirsh

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Jeff Kent
6. David Ortiz
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Scott Rolen
9. Curt Schilling
10. Billy Wagner

With unlimited votes, Hirsh would also include:

1. Andy Pettitte

“Man, this is tough. There are a lot of great players on the ballot, but that doesn’t always mean they are Hall of Fame players. All of these players were around during my childhood and when I played (might be the first time in four years of doing this that I can say that) which makes these decisions that much more difficult.

Andy Pettitte – 11th all-time in wins by a left hander, 19 post-season wins and one of the most durable left-handers of his era, I think Andy should get some serious consideration.

We are approaching an era of Hall of Fame voting that will be dominated by great players, but are they immortal? That is going to be a very difficult question to answer. As I previously stated, I think all of these players were great in their own right, but to be considered part of baseball immortality, I feel like many will fall short when compared to their predecessors and counterparts.

I think the Veterans Committee will have its work cut out for them in determining if any of these eligible players meet the mark when/if they fail to achieve the necessary threshold to stay on the ballot. Many believe the floodgates opened with Harold Baines being enshrined and they may not be wrong. It will likely spur a greater conversation about Hall of Fame requirements both as a player and a voter.

The one glaring hole in this ballot is a failed checkmark next to A-Rod. When considering that there is a checkmark next to Bonds and Clemens, it may not make sense when taken at face value. I think A-Rod’s numbers are without a doubt, Hall of Fame worthy. However, his handling of and subsequent suspension because of his illegal substance use will likely be a permanent stain on his career and accomplishments that he may not be able to overcome.

I’ve always thought the Hall of Fame was about on-field accomplishments, not off-field transgressions, hence why I’ve always thought Pete Rose was a Hall of Famer. These questionable players’ off-field transgressions, though, may have led to greater on-field accomplishments. We are left to wonder how much of their careers are the results of these transgressions, or were they worthy prior to them?

As time has gone on, voters have warmed up to the Bonds and Clemens candidacies, despite similar allegations to A-Rod. Maybe over time they will warm to A-Rod, but I feel like his violations were more egregious that both Bonds and Clemens. It is a slippery slope and it’s not easy to navigate and sometimes it doesn’t even make sense.

Ballot No. 13 – Willie Bloomquist

1. Mark Buehrle
2. Todd Helton
3. Andruw Jones
4. Tim Lincecum
5. Scott Rolen
6. Jimmy Rollins
7. Curt Schilling

Ballot No. 12 – Jeff Frye

1. Todd Helton
2. Andruw Jones
3. David Ortiz
4. Curt Schilling

Ballot No. 11 – Josh Fogg

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Scott Rolen
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Sammy Sosa

With unlimited votes, Fogg would also include:

1. Mark Buehrle
2. Tim Hudson
3. Curt Schilling
4. David Ortiz

“The number of great players on this list is crazy. The list will keep getting tougher each year until Bonds, Clemens, Pettitte, and company are given their spots in the Hall of Fame where their stats say they should be.”

Ballot No. 10 – JJ Putz

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. David Ortiz
4. Omar Vizquel
5. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 9 – Anonymous Former Houston Astros Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. David Ortiz
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Curt Schilling
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

With unlimited votes, ballplayer would also include:

1. Jeff Kent
2. Scott Rolen
3. Billy Wagner

“I would also vote for Lance Berkman.”

Ballot No. 8 – Anonymous Former Los Angeles Dodgers Ballplayer

1. Todd Helton
2. Andruw Jones
3. Jeff Kent
4. Omar Vizquel
5. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 7 – Frank Catalanotto

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Jeff Kent
4. David Ortiz
5. Manny Ramirez
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Gary Sheffield
8. Sammy Sosa

Ballot No. 6 – Anonymous Former San Diego Padres All-Star

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Jeff Kent
5. David Ortiz
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Scott Rolen
8. Gary Sheffield
9. Sammy Sosa
10. Omar Vizquel

Ballot No. 5 – Todd Greene

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. David Ortiz
6. Alex Rodriguez
7. Scott Rolen
8. Curt Schilling
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 4 – Anonymous Former Chicago White Sox Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Todd Helton
4. Andruw Jones
5. David Ortiz
6. Andy Pettitte
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Alex Rodriguez
9. Gary Sheffield
10. Sammy Sosa

Ballot No. 3 – Anonymous Former Arizona Diamondbacks Ballplayer

1. Todd Helton
2. Ryan Howard
3. Tim Hudson
4. Torii Hunter
5. Andruw Jones
6. David Ortiz
7. Curt Schilling
8. Billy Wagner

“Not looking at stats – just going on gut feeling.”

Ballot No. 2 – Anonymous Former Minnesota Twins Ballplayer

1. Todd Helton
2. David Ortiz
3. Curt Schilling
4. Gary Sheffield
5. Omar Vizquel
6. Billy Wagner

Ballot No. 1 – Anonymous Former Philadelphia Phillies Ballplayer

1. Barry Bonds
2. Roger Clemens
3. Jimmy Rollins
4. Billy Wagner

“I would also vote for Pete Rose.”