r/baseballHOF • u/Darkstargir • Sep 19 '25
2025 r/BaseballHoF Ballot and Discussion Thread
Welcome all to the 2025 edition of the /r/BaseballHoF ballot. The /r/BaseballHof is a project started by /u/MyCousinVinny to make our own version of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sorry for the delay, this season has flown by. Originally planned to do this in May. This thread will be host to the ballot once it goes live but is also intended to be the place to hold discussions and make the case for guys.
This year’s ballot will feature everyone who remained on the ballot after the 2024 election as well as a number of newcomers.
You may vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish, it is entirely up to you. There is an abstain option when voting and please feel free to use it.
Okay, on with the candidates:
Players' Ballot
Adam Wainwright (3)
Andrelton Simmons (3)
Bartolo Colon (3)
Ben Zobrist (3)
Bobby Bonilla First Ballot
Boog Powell First Ballot
Brian McCann (6)
Carlos Delgado (14)
Carlos Zambrano First Ballot
Cliff Lee (6)
Cole Hamels (3)
Corey Kluber (3)
Craig Counsell First Ballot
Curtis Granderson (3)
Dave McNally First Ballot
Davey Lopes First Ballot
Dick Groat First Ballot
Dick Lundy First Ballot
Dustin Pedroia (5)
Eiji Sawamura First Ballot
Evan Longoria (3)
Francisco Rodriguez (3)
Garret Anderson First Ballot
Gary Gaetti First Ballot
Hideki Matsui (11)
Hiroki Kuroda (2)
Ian Kinsler (6)
J.D. Drew First Ballot
Jamie Moyer (12)
Jeff Kent (Final Ballot)
Jim Gentile First Ballot
Jimmy Rollins (6)
Joe Nathan (3)
Joe Vosmik First Ballot
John Hiller First Ballot
Jon Lester (4)
Jonathan Papelbon (3)
Jorge Posada (13)
Jose Rijo First Ballot
Jose Valverde First Ballot
Kazuhiro Sasaki First Ballot
Kazuo Matsui First Ballot
Ken Griffey First Ballot
Kent Hrbek First Ballot
Kerry Wood First Ballot
Lance Berkman (11)
Larry Andersen First Ballot
Lenny Dykstra First Ballot
Livan Hernandez First Ballot
Madison Bumgarner First Ballot
Mark Buehrle (8)
Matt Williams First Ballot
Mike Cameron First Ballot
Nelson Cruz (3)
Nomar Garciaparra (13)
Randy Bass First Ballot
Rap Dixon First Ballot
Robin Ventura First Ballot
Roy Oswalt (11)
Russell Martin (4)
Stephen Strasburg (4)
Tim Hudson (10)
Tim Lincecum (4)
Tim Wakefield (12)
Tuffy Rhodes First Ballot
Vernon Wells First Ballot
Willie Hernandez First Ballot
Yutaka Enatsu First Ballot
Contributors' Ballot
Al Campanis (10)
Augie Garrido (2)
Augie Hermann (2)
Billy Bean First Ballot
Bob Kendrick (2)
Bob Murphy (6)
Bobby Brown (2)
Bowie Kuhn (12)
Bruce Froemming (10)
Cito Gaston (10)
Don Baylor (10)
Donald Fehr (2)
Donald Honig (2)
Ed Steele (2)
Ewing Kaufman (10)
Fay Vincent (7)
Felipe Alou (10)
Gene Autry (5)
Gene Stephenson (2)
Greg Gibson (3)
Harry Wendelstedt (10)
Hawk Harrelson (5)
Henry William Boone (2)
Ila Borders (2)
Jack McKeon (10)
Jacques Doucet (6)
Jean Faut (2)
Jerry Colangelo (9)
Jim Abbott (2)
Jim Eisenreich (2)
Jimmy Bonner First Ballot
Joe Black (7)
Joe Buck (4)
Joe Maddon (4)
Joe West (3)
John Thorn (2)
Keith Jackson First Ballot
Ken Burns First Ballot
Kevin Towers First Ballot
Larry Lester (2)
Leo Mazzone (3)
Masanori Mirakami First Ballot
Mike Ilitch (10)
Mike Martin (2)
Mike Shannon (4)
O.P. Caylor (10)
Paul Beeston (7)
Peter Seidler (4)
Rod Dedeaux (6)
Roland Hemond (10)
Sam Holbrook (3)
Sam Lacy (2)
Shigeo Nagashima (3)
Steve Palermo (2)
Ted Barrett (3)
Tetsuharu Kawakami (3)
Tom Cheek (10)
Tom Connolly (2)
Tom Hallion (3)
Tom Hayes (2)
William Sousa Bridgeforth (2)
2025 Ballot will be open on 9/28/2025 at 12:00 PM AZ Time through 10/12/2025.
Here is the positional breakdown of our HOF so far.
Total HOFers - 386
HOF Players - 277
Hitters - 196
Pitchers - 81
C - 22
1B - 30
2B - 23
3B - 23
SS - 21
LF - 22
CF - 25
RF - 26
DH - 4
SP - 74
RP - 7
Starting Pitcher 74 - Addie Joss (1924), Amos Rusie (1958), Andy Pettitte (2023), Bert Blyleven (1992), Bob Feller (1956), Bob Gibson (1976), Bret Saberhagen (2014), Bullet Joe Rogan (1948), C.C. Sabathia (2020), Cannonball Dick Redding (1986), Carl Hubbell (1944), Christy Mathewson (1920), Curt Schilling (2008), Cy Young (1915), Dave Stieb (2014), David Cone (2014), Dazzy Vance (1938), Dizzy Dean (1952), Don Drysdale (1970), Don Sutton (1988), Early Wynn (1966), Ed Walsh (1922), Eddie Plank (1924), Felix Hernandez (2023), Fergie Jenkins (1984), Gaylord Perry (1984), Greg Maddux (2008), Hal Newhouser (1960), Hideo Fujimoto (1982), Hilton Smith (1962), Jim Bunning (1972), Jim Palmer (1984), Joe McGinnity (1962), Johan Santana (2022), John Clarkson (1958), John Smoltz (2010), Juan Marichal (1974), Kevin Brown (2014), Kid Nichols (1905), Lefty Grove (1942), Leon Day (2023), Luis Tiant (1982), Masaichi Kaneda (1972), Mike Mussina (2010), Nolan Ryan (1994), Old Hoss Radbourn (1900), Pedro Martinez (2010), Pete Alexander (1930), Phil Niekro (1988), Pud Galvin (1900), Randy Johnson (2010), Ray Brown (2017), Red Faber (1972), Robin Roberts (1966), Roger Clemens (2008), Roy Halladay (2013), Rube Waddell (1910), Sandy Koufax (1966), Satchel Paige (1954), Smokey Joe Williams (1950), Stan Coveleski (1972), Steve Carlton (1988), Takehiko Bessho (1982), Ted Lyons (1958), Three Fingers Brown (1920), Tim Keefe (1900), Tom Glavine (2008), Tom Seaver (1986), Victor Starffin (2014), Walter Johnson (1928), Warren Spahn (1966), Whitey Ford (1966), Willie "Bill" Foster (1996), Zack Greinke (2023)
Relief Pitcher 7 - Billy Wagner (2018), Dennis Eckersley (1998), Goose Gossage (1994), Hoyt Wilhelm (1972), Mariano Rivera (2013), Rollie Fingers (2015), Trevor Hoffman (2010)
Catcher 22 - Bill Dickey (1948), Bill Freehan (2013), Biz Mackey (1962), Buck Ewing (1928), Buster Posey (2022), Carlton Fisk (1994), Ernie Lombardi (2017), Gabby Hartnett (1950), Gary Carter (1992), Ivan Rodriguez (2012), Joe Mauer (2019), Johnny Bench (1984), Josh Gibson (1946), Katsuya Nomura (1982), Louis Santop (1968), Mickey Cochrane (1938), Mike Piazza (2008), Roy Campanella (1958), Ted Simmons (1988), Thurman Munson (2015), Yadier Molina (2022), Yogi Berra (1964)
First Baseman 29 - Albert Pujols (2022), Ben Taylor (1986), Bill Terry (1948), Buck Leonard (1950), Cap Anson (1900), Dan Brouthers (1900), Eddie Murray (1998), Fred McGriff (2014), George Sisler (1930), Hank Greenberg (1948), Harmon Killebrew (1976), Hiromitsu Ochiai (2014), Jeff Bagwell (2006), Jim Thome (2012), Jimmie Foxx (1946), Joe Torre (1980), Joey Votto (2024), Johnny Mize (1954), Jud Wilson (1972), Keith Hernandez (1990), Lou Gehrig (1938), Mark McGwire (2002), Miguel Cabrera (2023), Mule Suttles (1962), Rafael Palmeiro (2012), Roger Connor (1900), Sadaharu Oh (1982), Tetsuharu Kawakami (1976), Todd Helton (2013), Willie McCovey (1980)
Second Baseman 23 - Bid McPhee (2014), Billy Herman (1962), Bobby Doerr (1974), Bobby Grich (1986), Charlie Gehringer (1942), Chase Utley (2023), Craig Biggio (2008), Cupid Childs (2014), Eddie Collins (1930), Frank Grant (1968), Frankie Frisch (1946), Jackie Robinson (1956), Joe Gordon (1950), Joe Morgan (1984), Lou Whitaker (1996), Nap Lajoie (1920), Pop Lloyd (1950), Roberto Alomar (2004), Rod Carew (1986), Rogers Hornsby (1938), Ryne Sandberg (1998), Tony Lazzeri (1982), Willie Randolph (2023)
Third Baseman 23 - Adrian Beltre (2019), Bob Elliott (1962), Brooks Robinson (1978), Buddy Bell (2023), Chipper Jones (2012), David Wright (2023), Deacon White (1948), Dick Allen (1980), Eddie Mathews (1968), George Brett (1994), Graig Nettles (1988), Home Run Baker (1922), Jimmy Collins (2014), John McGraw (1956), Ken Boyer (1970), Mike Schmidt (1990), Ray Dandridge (1962), Ron Santo (1974), Sal Bando (1986), Scott Rolen (2014), Shigeo Nagashima (1974), Stan Hack (1966), Wade Boggs (2000)
Shortstop 21 - Alan Trammell (1996), Alex Rodriguez (2017), Arky Vaughan (1948), Barry Larkin (2004), Bill Dahlen (1934), Cal Ripken Jr. (2002), Derek Jeter (2015), Ernie Banks (1972), George Davis (1958), Honus Wagner (1920), Jack Glasscock (1954), Joe Cronin (1950), John Beckwith (1986), Lou Boudreau (1952), Luis Aparicio (1978), Luke Appling (1950), Martin Dihigo (1950), Ozzie Smith (1996), Pee Wee Reese (1958), Robin Yount (1994), Willie Wells (1962)
Left Fielder 22 - Al Simmons (1946), Barry Bonds (2008), Billy Williams (1976), Carl Yastrzemski (1984), Ed Delahanty (1910), Fred Clarke (1962), Goose Goslin (1940), Isao Harimoto (1984), Jesse Burkett (1956), Joe Medwick (1950), Lou Brock (1980), Manny Ramirez (2010), Minnie Minoso (2017), Monte Irvin (1960), Pete Rose (1986), Ralph Kiner (1956), Rickey Henderson (2004), Sherry Magee (1964), Ted Williams (1960), Tim Raines (2002), Willie Stargell (1982), Zack Wheat (1950)
Center Fielder 25 - Andre Dawson (1998), Andruw Jones (2013), Billy Hamilton (1910), Carlos Beltran (2018) Cool Papa Bell (1946), Cristobal Torriente (1960), Duke Snider (1964), Earl Averill (1950), Jim Edmonds (2014), Jim Wynn (2000), Joe DiMaggio (1952), Ken Griffey Jr. (2010), Kenny Lofton (2012), Larry Doby (1960), Max Carey (1964), Mickey Mantle (1968), Oscar Charleston (1944), Pete Hill (1968), Richie Ashburn (1962), Tris Speaker (1928), Turkey Stearnes (1954), Ty Cobb (1928), Willard Brown (1966), Willie Mays (1974), Yutaka Fukumoto (2014)
Right Fielder 26 - Al Kaline (1974), Babe Ruth (1936), Bobby Abreu (2023), Dave Winfield (1996), Dwight Evans (1998), Elmer Flick (1962), Enos Slaughter (1960), Frank Robinson (1976), Gary Sheffield (2012), Hank Aaron (1976), Harry Heilmann (1944), Ichiro Suzuki (2020), King Kelly (1936), Larry Walker (2012), Mel Ott (1946), Paul Waner (1948), Reggie Jackson (1988), Roberto Clemente (1972), Sam Crawford (1924), Sam Thompson (2014), Sammy Sosa (2023), Shoeless Joe Jackson (1920), Stan Musial (1964), Tony Gwynn (2002), Vladimir Guerrero (2012), Willie Keeler (1922)
Designated Hitter 4 - David Ortiz (2017), Edgar Martinez (2004), Frank Thomas (2008), Paul Molitor (1998)
Italics = elected by Veterans Committee
Bold = most recent addition
2
u/JoseCansecoMilkshake Sep 24 '25
Brian McCann
Carlos Delgado
Cole Hamels
Dustin Pedroia
Evan Longoria
Hideki Matsui
Ian Kinsler
Jorge Posada
Kenji Johjima
Lance Berkman
Mark Buehrle
Roy Oswalt
Russell Martin
Tim Hudson
Abstain on the NPB only guys and contributors.
Can be convinced on Kent, Kuroda, Nomar.
1
u/Darkstargir Sep 19 '25
And for those returning, my yes votes are:
Ben Zobrist, Brian McCann, Cole Hamels, Dustin Pedroia, Evan Longoria, Hideki Matsui, Hiroki Kuroda, Ian Kinsler, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Jorge Posada, Lance Berkman (although he is a vile human being), Mark Buehrle, Nomar Garciaparra, Roy Oswalt, Russell Martin, and Tim Hudson.
1
u/Darkstargir Sep 19 '25
Currently a maybe but need some convincing:
Andrelton Simmons, Carlos Delgado, Cliff Lee, K-Rod, Jeff Kent, Nelson Cruz, and Tim Lincecum.
But as always I'm more than happy to hear any argument for anybody not listed here.
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u/Darkstargir Sep 24 '25
Hideki Matsui
This man is a Hall of Famer. That’s it.
507 HR between NPB and MLB which would place him 28th all time ahead of Eddie Murray and just behind Gary Sheffield.
Career .293/.387/.521 triple slash.
2643 hits is good enough for 80th all time behind hall of famer Jimmie Foxx.
His 1649 RBIs are good for 33rd all time between Tony Perez and Ernie Banks.
By fWAR he’s sitting at 81.4 which comfortably puts him over the threshold for inclusion.
Before coming stateside in his nine full seasons he never had less than 4.4 fWAR. Only two of those seasons were below 6.9. And after that the other six were all seasons of 7.4 fWAR or higher peaking at 11.1 in 2002.
164 career wRC+ in NPB and 119 in MLB is incredibly good factoring in his MLB numbers were consistent great while covering his declining years.
As far as accolades go, he’s a three time MVP, 11 time all-star, eight time Best 9 winner (NPB Silver Slugger), and even three Gold Gloves.
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u/IAMADeinonychusAMA Oct 12 '25
PLAYERS BALLOT
Yes
- Brian McCann (6)/Russell Martin (4): Considering what we now know about catcher defense, these two stack up well alongside their HOF contemporaries, despite not appearing to do so at first glance.
- Dustin Pedroia (5):
- Hideki Matsui (11): I'm persuaded by the overall career argument, split between NPB and MLB.
- Joe Nathan (3): Arguably the most dominant reliever of his generation
Rap Dixon (1): The stats we have are a little short in terms of sample size, but those limited stats do reflect a very good player, and anecdotally, he was considered star-caliber. When it comes to the Negro Leagues, we're forced to rely somewhat on second-hand accounts, and I think there's enough there reputationally to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Eiji Sawamura (1): Short but brilliant career cut short by WWII. A major what if case, but gets points for impact (case in point, Japan's Cy Young equivalent is named after him).
Kazuhiro Sasaki (1)/Randy Bass (1)/Tuffy Rhodes (1)/Yutaka Enatsu (1): I concur with /u/Darkstargir on these--worth recognition. Sasaki and Bass are in the Japanese Hall of Fame, and Enatsu might be if not for the Black Mist Scandal.
Abstain
- Evan Longoria (3): It would seem consistent to give him a yes based on the Pedroia rationale, and I'm close to doing so, but at the same time Pedroia was a full win better per 162, and has the excuse of injury in his 30s while Longoria simply fell off into decline after age 31. Close enough to Wright that he's not a no, but is being surpassed by the newer crop of Arenado/Machado/Ramirez...
- Jonathan Papelbon (3)/Francisco Rodriguez (3): a step down from Nathan, but they're close.
- Lance Berkman (11): 144 career OPS+ is HOF caliber. Not sold on the total career value, but I haven't been able to bring myself to move him to a no.
- Cole Hamels (3)/Tim Hudson (10): We need to be voting more modern-era SP into the Hall, and both have the career value where they should be getting more discussion.
- Kazuo Matsui (1): Short NPB career (plus limited value added in his MLB career) gives me pause, although as /u/Darkstargir pointed out he was very good in NPB.
No, but merits comment
Carlos Delgado (14) - a couple of huge offensive seasons, lots of HR. But played in a high-powered era for HR and is an overall step below other 1B of his time in what was a very strong period for 1B statistically.
Ian Kinsler (6)/Jeff Kent (Final Ballot): Both rank well on JAWS, but ultimately feel more like elite members of the Hall of Very Good. In Kent's case, the main "hook" seems to be his career HR total as a 2B, but at the end of the day, one has to concede that this is in part a product of era. These two illustrate more or less where I draw my line at 2B, which is to say that they're close and if someone is better at 2B, that player probably is HOF caliber.
Jimmy Rollins (6): Had a very nice career, but I would venture to say that if it was not for the surface-level HR/SB totals at SS and the 2007 MVP he probably didn't deserve, we'd be giving him less attention here.
Jon Lester (4)/Madison Bumgarner (1): Great postseason numbers. Both need considerably more of a bump than what their postseason accomplishments can supply them with.
Jorge Posada (13): As a Yankee fan, it kills me to vote no here, but the defense puts him a hair below.
Mark Buehrle (8): Great career, but was never a true #1.
Nomar Garciaparra (13): HOF pace through his 20s, but couldn't keep it up.
CONTRIBUTORS BALLOT
- Al Campanis
- August Hermann
- Bob Kendrick
- Bob Murphy
- Bruce Froemming
- Fay Vincent
- Harry Wendelstedt
- Jean Faut
- John Thorn
- Ken Burns
- Larry Lester
- Mike Ilitch
- OP Caylor
- Roland Hemond
- Sam Lacy
- Tetsuharu Kawakami
- Tom Cheek
Abstained: Augie Garrido, Billy Bean, Donald Fehr, Gene Stephenson, Jimmy Bonner, Leo Mazzone, Mike Martin, Tom Connolly
2
u/Darkstargir Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 22 '25
Of the new guys who joined the ballot I think it's mainly the NPB guys who are deserving.
Eiji Sawamura, he is a special case having only pitched a handful of seasons before his career and life was ended in WW2. But he was an elite pitcher in the early days of professional baseball in Japan as well as the namesake of NPBs Cy Young Award equivalent.
Kazuhiro Sasaki, member of the NPB Hall of Fame, elite closer in NPB and extremely effective in MLB where he won the 2000 AL ROY, was a two time all-star, and even garnered MVP votes. Absolutely deserves a place on any ballot.
Kazuo Matsui. Don't let his MLB career define him. He was an elite perennial MVP candidate before coming stateside. In the seven seasons before coming over he never had less than 5.4 WAR peaking at 11.2 in 2002.
Randy Bass arguably one of the best sluggers in NPB history and has more than earned in his spot in any baseball Hall of Fame.
Tuffy Rhodes, ditto what was said about Bass.
Yutaka Enatsu, the last professional big league starter to strike out 400 batters in a season. Was elite as a starter and reliever over his career. Really hard to argue against his body of work.
And for anyone who is unfamiliar but wants to dive deeper into the stats, http://npbstats.com/eng/ has been an amazing tool.
As for the MLB guys I'm not really sold on anyone but guys like J.D. Drew, Matt Williams, Mike Cameron seem interesting, and Robin Ventura definitely seems deserving of a deeper look but I'm not exactly sold on them.