SAN DIEGO — Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds were all passed over by the Baseball Hall of Fame committee which elected Fred McGriff, a former big league slugger to Cooperstown on Sunday.
This was the first appearance by Bonds Clemens and Schilling before they were confronted with a Hall committee. Bonds and Clemens have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, and support for Schilling dropped after he made hateful remarks toward Muslims, transgender people, reporters and others.
McGriff was nicknamed “Crime Dog” and hit.284 with 493 hits and 1,550 RBIs during 19 seasons with six major league teams. McGriff, the first baseman, was a five-time All-Star who also helped Atlanta The 1995 World Series Champion.
McGriff, who is 59 years old, received unanimous support from 16 members of the contemporary baseball-era committee. This committee was made up of Hall members and executives as well writers. Greg Maddux, a former player with McGriff’s Braves, was part of the group, as well as Paul Beeston who was an executive in Toronto at McGriff’s big league debut. Blue Jays 1986
Chipper Jones (an ex-Brave) was also expected to be a member of the committee. But he became ill and was eventually replaced by Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall.
McGriff was 39.8% (169 votes) in his last year on the BBWAA ballot. McGriff, along with any other writer who was chosen in the writers vote announced Jan. 24, will now be inducted into Cooperstown in July 23.
The current era committee is for candidates whose careers are primarily from 1980 to the present. To be elected, a player should have 75%.
This year’s panel included Hall of Famer Jack Morris, Ryne Sandersberg, Lee Smith and Frank Thomas. It met in San Diego during baseball’s winter meetings.
The eight-man ballot was completed by Dale Murphy, Albert Belle and Don Mattingly.
Mattingly came next with eight votes out of twelve required. Schilling had seven, Murphy had six. Nobody else had more that three.
In January, Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling failed to win their final chance with the BBWAA. Bonds received 260 out of 394 votes (66%), Clemens was 257 (65.2%), and Schilling was 231 (58.6%).
Palmeiro was removed from the BBWAA ballot, having received 25 votes (4.4%) in his fourth appearance in 2014. This was below the 5% minimum required to remain on the ballot. His 2012 high was 72 votes (12.6%).
Bonds has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs, and Clemens maintains he never used PEDs. Following a positive test for major league drugs, Palmeiro was removed from the team for 10 days.
Bonds, a seven-time NL MVP was the holder of the career home run record of 762 runs and the season record of 73 runs in 2001. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards. He was 354-184 and had a 3.12 ERA with 4,672 strikeouts. This placed him third behind Randy Johnson (4.875) and Nolan Ryan (5.714). Palmeiro had 3,020 runs and 568 homers.
Schilling lost 16 votes to 285 (71.1%) for the 2021 BBWAA vote. The right-hander won the World Series with Arizona 2001 by winning it 216-146 and a 3.46 ERA. Boston In 2004 and 2007.
Theo Epstein was also a member of the current era committee. He was the GM in Boston at the time Schilling was acquired by the Red Sox in a deal with the Diamondbacks.
Major League Baseball players on the ineligible list can’t be considered. Pete Rose is not exempted from this rule.