Four players were elected to the Hall of Fame. Some weren’t so fortunate, falling short and/or falling off the ballot completely.
Andruw Jones, who was one the greatest defensive center fielders of his generation, barely remained on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.
The Atlanta Braves slugger earned 31 votes out of 422 cast to remain eligible for consideration in 2019. Players needed at least 5%, or 21 votes, to remain on the ballot.
Four players — Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome and Trevor Hoffman — earned the needed 75% of ballots and will be inducted in July. Some weren’t so fortunate.
Breaking down the ballot:
First-ballot inductees: Chipper Jones and Thome.
Class of 2018: For the second time in four years but just the fourth time in the 82-year electoral history, four players were elected. The other times were in 1947,1955 and 2015. The inaugural 1936 class had five inductees.
16: Players elected over the past five years, the largest total over a five-year span, breaking the previous mark of 13 from 1952-56.
20: Votes shy for DH Edgar Martinez, his ninth time on the ballot. He has one more year on the ballot.
97.2%: Jones’ percentage was the 11th-highest in balloting history, just 0.04% behind longtime teammate Greg Maddux.
Gaining momentum: Excluding Guerrero, eight-time candidate Larry Walker had the biggest increase in support gaining 12.2% (from 21.9% in 2017 to 34.1% in 2018).
Losing momentum: Of the 14 holdovers, Manny Ramirez (23.8% in 2017 to 22% in 2018), Jeff Kent (17.7% to 14.5%), Gary Sheffield (13.3% to 11.1%) and Sammy Sosa (8.6% to 7.8%) lost support.
Survive and stick: Scott Rolen (43,10.2%), Sammy Sosa (33,7.8%), Andruw Jones (31,7.3%).
Players falling off the ballot (14): Jamie Moyer, Johan Santana, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Chris Carpenter, Kerry Wood, Livan Hernandez, Carlos Lee, Orlando Hudson, Aubrey Huff, Jason Isringhausen, Brad Lidge, Kevin Millwood, Carlos Zambrano.
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Total votes. Players need to appear on 75% of ballots cast to earn election.
Chipper Jones (410,97.2%), Vladimir Guerrero (392,92.9%), Jim Thome (379,89.8%), Trevor Hoffman (337,79.9%), Edgar Martinez (297,70.4%), Mike Mussina (268,63.5%), Roger Clemens (242,57.3%), Barry Bonds (238,56.4%), Curt Schilling (216,51.2%), Omar Vizquel (156,37.0%), Larry Walker (144,34.1%), Fred McGriff (98,23.2%), Manny Ramirez (93,22.0%), Jeff Kent (61,14.5%), Gary Sheffield (47,11.1%), Billy Wagner (47,11.1%), Scott Rolen (43,10.2%), Sammy Sosa (33,7.8%), Andruw Jones (31,7.3%), Jamie Moyer (10,2.4%), Johan Santana (10,2.4%), Johnny Damon (8,1.9%), Hideki Matsui (4,0.9%), Chris Carpenter (2,0.5%), Kerry Wood (2,0.5%), Livan Hernandez (1,0.2%), Carlos Lee (1,0.2%), Orlando Hudson (0), Aubrey Huff (0), Jason Isringhausen (0), Brad Lidge (0), Kevin Millwood (0), Carlos Zambrano (0)
