Chances they get enshrined in the same year? 2013? A part of me wants them to go seperate so they each have their day but you really can't separate Biggio and Bagwell. Both my all time favorites since I grew up watching them. Them two and the $5 dollar outfield seats at the Astrodome are my favorite memories growing up. http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2012/11/28/ex-astros-biggio-clemens-join-bagwell-on-hall-of-fame-ballot/
Biggio's chances? 50% Bag's chances? 10% Bagwell support will only grow. I expect a few Biggio coat tail votes for him as people think they should be enshrined together. I'm going if they make it.
It's what I've hoped for since Biggio retired...that they go in together. I'd love to go if they both make it in. As an Astros fan for over 30 years, it would be a dream come true to see that happen. I don't think it's going to happen, though. I think neither gets in this year but Biggio will be close and Bagwell will actually lose support. I'm betting that Jack Morris is the only inductee this year...which will be incredible considering it's a ballot with Biggio, Bagwell, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Curt Schilling, etc. It's by far the most talented ballot ever.
Of all the "awards" handed out for any professional or college sports, baseball HOF voting has to be the stupidest thing around. Honestly, I don't particularly care when they get in, and prefer not to think about the ever creeping closer to the 75% mark like it's some sort of god damn game to these folks. Also, I think Biggio gets in before Bagwell, but won't get in this year. I also think Biggio is 100% certain to get in, while Bagwell is only 90% likely. The latter would be a travesty, but you just can't argue with the "he played in the era of steroids and he hit a lot of HRs, so... maybe not HOF worthy" logic.
I won't pretend for a second to be a baseball fan, but I don't understand the whole "first ballot" concept. Someone is either a HOFer or they aren't.
I am a baseball fan and it doesn't make any sense to me, either. Jack Morris has been on the ballot for 13 years. What makes him more worthy now than 13 years ago? It's the crusty, fat, old bastards who make up much of the voting block for the BBWAA that have this feeling that because Joe DiMaggio didn't get in on his first ballot, no one should.
People say things like this all the time, but when challenged it never holds up. Who is the comp to Biggio that was held out of the Hall of Fame? What player with 3,000 hits didn't the writers put in that has you thinking they are "idiots?"
dick justice has a vote what does that tell you. Here is a partial list from last year. Not sure why but Bagwell got killed by Chicago writers. He might have made it in if not for them. http://bbwaa.com/2012-hof-voting-link/
Some writers hold this mystique for a "First Ballot Hall-of-Famer" and vote, or rather withhold their votes, for certain players according to whether he is a "FIRST BALLOT" Hall-of-Famer or just a plain ol' ordinary run-of-the-mill Hall-of-Fame baseball player. Stupid. Like was said earlier, if Jack Morris is hall-worthy now, he was 13 years ago, too. The mystique and elitism surrounding the baseball HOF vote is beyond stupid. And when you have crowded classes like this year's, deserving guys get pushed back because the crotchety old superstitious curmudgeons think there should only be a very few inductees any given year. That, and guys playing judge-and-jury deciding that players did or didn't do steroids and withholding votes, all the while leaving cheaters of other kinds in the hall. And leaving Pete Rose out because he gambled while leaving slime like Ty Cobb in. Re-frickin-diculous. It's a process laden with nonsense.
It's a process laden with nonsense yet is the only professional sports hall of fame that really carries much gravitas with it. Does the "first ballot" thing make sense? Not really know, but it has become something I personally am fond of. I think it is cool that the Hall of Fame has a higher level of honor for those who were better than the best. As to the Pete Rose thing, it has nothing to do with the Hall of Fame voters so there is no reason to hold that against them. Rose is banned from baseball by no choice of the Hall of Fame. They do acknowledge him at Cooperstown by the way. It's not like he's absent. As for deserving guys getting pushed back, it rarely happens actually that a clear cut hall of famer gets pushed back because of a crowded ballot. The guys who end up waiting periods of time are guys that are not as clear cut and are being argued for over the course of years.
The Pro football HOF is worse. Win two superbowls you are in. However a guy like chris carter isn't in. A HOF career should be how good you are over a long period of time. I think in general Baseball does the best job of that.
The Football HOF is a total joke. The writers have to get together and argue with each other about "their guy." Campaigning for an individual player, making deals on votes for one player over another, holding grudges against players. Total sham. While baseball has guys that take forever to get in (I argued continuously for Blyleven) they are not guys that were inarguably the best in the league for stretches of time. Generally what happens is as time goes by some players get looked at more fondly with the passing of time and get elected. Jim Rice got into the HOF despite not having HOF numbers because the steroid era that followed has made writers nostalgic for his era. If Craig Biggio is not elected on the first ballot he would be by far and away the most qualified player to not get in on the first ballot since the balloting process began.
He's a lock to get in, just not on the first ballot. Over 20% of the voters didn't list Lou Brock or Robin Yount on their first time. The fact that they there is a discussion, proves how ridiculous this is. Jeff Bagwell is not in the HOF.
