Here's My Baseball Hall of Fame Vote

I gave the nod to Roberto Alomar on the first ballot. Some Hall of Fame voters are opposed to first ballot candidates on principle, feeling hardly anyone deserves the honor. I believe that if you're a Hall of Famer, why wait?

Ty Cobb was one of the first five players enshrined, which meant he was elected on the first ballot. He was a murderer. He shot and killed a hotel bellhop in Cleveland. He didn't even go to trial. The case was dropped. He went directly to the Hall of Fame, as though he were playing Monopoly.

(By the way, "Cobb" is one of the best baseball movies ever made. Tommy Lee Jones plays Cobb. Rent it.)

Here's the rest of my ballot in alphabetical order: Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Dave Parker and Lee Smith.

Baines and Parker have absolutely no hope of ever getting in. Last year Baines got only 6 per cent of the vote. You need 5 per cent to remain on the ballot. I've been voting for Parker ever since he became eligible and I'll do it until his 15-year eligibility ends, which will be next year. He was a terrific offensive force during the pitcher's era.

My son, John, who now lives in Cincinnati, says I overlooked Barry Larkin. I realize he's right. Too late for this year.

I voted for six candidates, more than most. I've got two theories about this.

1) The minimum standards for admission were established years ago when players such as Phil Rizzuto were elected. Over the last century the country grew, Major League baseball expanded, equipment and players got better. We've got more Hall of Famers in the game today than ever before according to the standards already set.

2) Every ballot cast makes election more difficult. To be elected a player must be named on 75 per cent of the ballots. Last year 539 were cast. Every ballot is precious. There have been some years when I voted for ten, which is the maximum allowed. That's because I felt that many met the minimum requirements, although realistically only one or two would be elected. But at least I helped keep them on the ballot another year.

The 539 voters are a varied group -- active members of the Baseball Writers Association of America for at least 10 years. After that, they vote for the Hall of Fame for the rest of their lives. I'm in that group and I take this duty seriously.

I imagine there are old guys in nursing homes who don't know if it's Thursday or September, whose mail is brought to them by a niece or grandchildren. The niece or grandchild might even fill out the ballot for them.

I hope one of them voted for Barry Larkin. Deadline, as always, is Dec. 31.

This article reprinted from CoughlinUnplugged.com, through a partnership between Dan Coughlin and The Cleveland Leader. To read more of his writing, visit his website.