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The 2010 Hall of Fame Ballots have been released. I am admittedly more lenient than most in terms of who I think is worthy of enshrinement. That said here is how I break down this year’s crop.

Slam Dunk
Roberto Alomar

Let them In Already
Bert Blyleven
Andre Dawson
Jack Morris
Mark McGwire
Lee Smith

In a Couple Years
Barry Larkin
Edgar Martinez
Dale Murphy
Dave Parker
Tim Raines
Don Mattingly
Alan Trammell

Never
Kevin Appier
Harold Baines
Ellis Burks
Andres Galarraga
Pat Hentgen
Mike Jackson
Erik Karros
Ray Lankford
Fred McGriff
Shane Reynolds
David Segui
Robin Ventura
Todd Zeile

The votes are in.  The 2009 Hall of Fame class will consist of Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice.  Rickey got in on his first try and Rice on his last.  As a Red Sox fan I am thrilled that Rice got in, but as a baseball fan I’m saddened that he did not have more company.  As good as Rice was, I think that there were more deserving players left off the ballot.  Andre Dawson for example was also a incredible hitter that happened to run well AND played Gold Glove defense.  Bert Byleven won 287 games and was a strikeout and shutout king.  Jack Morris was the winningest pitcher in the 80′s with an amazing postseason resume.  Maybe next year for them when only Roberto Alomar makes a strong case for first-ballot induction.  Here’s a look at the votes.

I don’t know how you can maintain voting eligibility if you did not vote for Rickey Henderson.  He’s only the all-time leader in Runs, Walks, and Stolen Bases and a member of the 3000 Hit Club.  There are 28 writers that have some explaining to do.  If they can’t come up with a good reason they left him off their ballots, like temporary amnesia or something, they should be thanked for their service and never heard from again.

The 2009 Hall of Fame Ballots have been released.  I am admittedly more lenient than most in terms of who I think is worthy of enshrinement.  That said here is how I break down this year’s crop.

Slam Dunk
Rickey Henderson

Let them In Already
Bert Blyleven
Andre Dawson
Jack Morris
Dale Murphy
Dave Parker
Tim Raines
Jim Rice
Lee Smith

In a Couple Years
David Cone
Mark Grace
Don Mattingly
Alan Trammell

Never
Harold Baines
Jay Bell
Ron Gant
Tommy John
Mark McGwire
Jesse Orosco
Dan Plesac
Greg Vaughn
Mo Vaughn
Matt Williams

Past Chronicles
Dick Allen
Roberto Alomar
Richie Ashburn*
Earl Averill*
Harold Baines
Dan Bancroft*
Jake Beckley*
Albert Belle
Jim Bottomley*
Pete Browning
Jim Bunning *
Bert Byleven
Joe Carter
Orlando Cepeda*
Rocky Colavito
Earle Combs*
Dave Concepcion
David Cone
Roger Connor*
Larry Corcoran
Mike Cuellar
Bill Dahlen
George Davis*
Andre Dawson
Larry Doby*
Bobby Doerr*
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Dwight Evans
Rick Ferrell*
Wes Ferrell
Chuck Finley
Steve Finley
Nellie Fox*
John Franco
Gary Gaetti
Steve Garvey
Lefty Gomez*
Luis Gonzalez
Dwight Gooden
Joe Gordon
Mark Grace
Bobby Grich
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Ron Guidry
Chick Hafey*
Billy Herman*
Keith Hernandez
Orel Hershiser
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Gil Hodges
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Travis Jackson*
Tommy John
Bob Johnson
Addie Joss*
Jim Kaat
George Kell*
Joe Kelley*
George Kelly*
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Chuck Klein*
Jerry Koosman
Bill James & Pete Palmer
Barry Larkin
Tony Lazzeri*
Freddie Lindstrom*
Mickey Lolich
Ernie Lombardi*
Fred Lynn
Sherry Magee
Roger Maris
Rube Marquard*
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Dennis Martinez
Edgar Martinez
Bobby Matthews
Don Mattingly
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Carl Mays
Bill Mazeroski*
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Bid McPhee
Johnny Mize*
Paul Molitor*
Jack Morris
Tony Mullane
Dale Murphy
Graig Nettles
Hal Newhouser*
Lefty O’Doul
Tony Oliva
Al Oliver
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Dave Parker
Wes Parker
Lance Parrish
Vada Pinson
Boog Powell
Tim Raines
Willie Randolph
Pee Wee Reese*
Allie Reynolds
Jim Rice
Phil Rizzuto*
Brooks Robinson*
Pete Ro$e
Amos Rusie*
Jimmy Ryan
Ron Santo
Curt Schilling
Red Schoendienst* (Player/Manager)
Ted Simmons
Enos Slaughter*
Lee Smith
Rusty Staub
Vern Stephens
Dave Stieb
Mel Stottlemyre
Harry Stovey
Sam Thompson
Luís Tiant
Joe Torre
Alan Trammell
George Van Haltren
Arky Vaughan*
Mo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
Mickey Vernon
Frank Viola
Bucky Walters
Mickey Welch*
Lou Whitaker
Deacon White
Bernie Williams
Vic Willis*
Maury Wills 
Hack Wilson*
Ross Youngs*
Veterans Committee Ballot
 
* Signifies actual Hall of Famers