The Baseball Writers Association of America have voted on the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame class. The votes have been totaled and this year there are four inductees, Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina. Rivera made MLB and Baseball Hall of Fame history by being the first player to be inducted unanimously. These four will join Harold Baines and Lee Smith who were elected in December by the Modern Baseball Era committee at the museum’s induction ceremony in July. Each of the four players must have received over 75% of the votes to be able to be immortalized in Cooperstown.
As mentioned above, making history and leading the group in vote totals was Mariano Rivera who was voted in unanimously. Rivera was famous for his entrance music and would enter the game to “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. On the mound, however, Rivera was incredible and there is no shock that he belongs in the Hall of Fame. He carried a career 2.21 ERA and WHIP of 1.00 while closing out an MLB record 652 saves for the Yankees over his 19-year career. Rivera was a 13-time all-star who received votes for both the Cy Young and MVP Awards throughout his career though he never won either. Below is the video of Rivera getting his “call to the Hall” and celebrating with his family after being announced as unanimous.
History! Mariano Rivera is officially the first player in MLB history to receive 100% of the votes! Truly remarkable experience for myself and his family! pic.twitter.com/WMrbFRsVAb
— Martino Puccio (@MartinoPuccio) January 22, 2019
Next up, to get a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 is Roy “Doc” Halladay. Halladay who passed away in 2018 in a fatal plane crash received 85.4% of the vote. Halladay’s 16-year career featured a 203-108 record with a 3.38 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Halladay also had an amazing 2117 strikeouts, but what is not to be forgotten is Halladay’s postseason success. He won two Cy Young awards (one in both league) and threw a perfect game and no-hitter in the postseason. Halladay was an 8-time All-Star and one of the best players to take the mound. Halladay’s wife released a statement on the matter about how much Halladay would have loved to receive this amazing honor.
Via the Phillies, a statement from Brandy Halladay, Roy’s wife pic.twitter.com/v44iPH1J5o
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 22, 2019
Tying Halladay in vote percentage was former Seattle Mariner Edgar Martinez, who is one of the first full-time designated hitters to get in. Martinez also received 85.4% of the vote and is going to be immortalized in Cooperstown after getting in during his final year of eligibility. He was a 7-time all-star and took home two batting titles as well as five Silver Slugger awards over his 18-year career. Martinez opened the door for future designated hitters who will be on the ballot like David Ortiz after he got in this year. Below is Martinez getting his “call to the Hall” and his reaction.
Edgar gets the call. #EdgarHOF pic.twitter.com/FfnrcenFvA
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) January 22, 2019
The final player to be elected to the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame class was pitcher Mike Mussina. The former Baltimore Oriole and New York Yankee received 76.7% of the vote this year was elected in his sixth year of eligibility. Mussina was a 5-time All-Star as well as a part of the Yankees team that surrounded him with names like Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Derek Jeter on the offensive side. Mussina also had a lot of success with the Baltimore Orioles which leaves him as undecided for what team he will represent in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He just finished coaching a high school basketball game when he got his “call to the Hall”, Mussina appeared in an interview on MLB Network where he expressed his gratitude for being selected for the honor.
Asked on MLB Network what hat he would wear into the Hall of Fame, Mike Mussina said: pic.twitter.com/70soRqbU8x
— Jon Meoli (@JonMeoli) January 23, 2019
These four players will be forever remembered for their success and achievements in the game of baseball in their induction ceremony that comes this summer. While it is great to congratulate the winners and talk about how incredible their careers were, there is a lot to look forward to for next years inductees. In terms of the controversial names of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling… their vote totals are below.
Bonds- 59.1%
Clemens-57.3%
Schilling-60.9%
These three have some time left but need to get to that 75% threshold if they want to be entered into the Baseball Hall of Fame. On the other hand, Larry Walker is going into his final year of eligibility and must get 75% of the vote this year or he will be off the BBWAA ballot. Also, there were four players who were removed from the ballot for next year due to ineligibility based off years or not receiving enough votes. The players who removed are Fred McGriff who did not get elected in his 10th year on the ballot, Lance Berkman, Miguel Tejada, and Roy Oswalt who did not receive the minimum 5% of votes to stay on the ballot.
