Analyzing the 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame Class

Sports Illustrated's Ted Keith and Stephen Cannella discuss the 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame election that will see Craig Biggio, John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez, and Randy Johnson all be inducted into Cooperstown in July.

Randy Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner and 2002, was the leading vote getter with 534 of the 549 ballots (97.3 percent). Johnson received the 8th highest percentage in Hall of Fame voting history, surpassed only by Tom Seaver (98.94), Nolan Ryan (98.7), Cal Ripken Jr. (98.5), Ty Cobb (98.2), George Brett (98.2), Hank Aaron (97.8) and Tony Gwynn (97.6).

Candidates must be named on 75 percent of ballots submitted to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pedro Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, received 500 votes (91.9%). John Smoltz received 455 votes (82.9%), and Craig Biggio 454 votes (82.7%),

Catcher Mike Piazza was 28 votes shy of the 412 required for election. Mike Piazza, vote total was 69.9 percent.

The only other players to be named on more than half the ballots were first baseman Jeff Bagwell (55.7) and outfielder Tim Raines (55.0). Players may remain on the ballot provided they receive at least five percent of the vote for up to 10 years.

Others who qualified for future consideration were pitcher Curt Schilling (39.2), pitcher Roger Clemens (37.5), outfielder Barry Bonds (36.8), relief pitcher Lee Smith (30.2), infielder-designated hitter Edgar Martinez (27.0), shortstop Alan Trammell (25.1), pitcher Mike Mussina (24.6), second baseman Jeff Kent (14.0), first baseman Fred McGriff (12.9), outfielder Larry Walker (11.8), outfielder Gary Sheffield (11.7), first baseman Mark McGwire (10.0), outfielder Sammy Sosa (6.6) and shortstop Nomar Garciapiarra (5.5).

In his final year on the ballot, first baseman Don Mattingly received 50 votes (9.1) and will be eligible for consideration by the Expansion Era Committee in two years.

 

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"Analyzing the 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame Class"