By: TK Layman Staff Writer
The MLB Hall of Fame inducts the best players from years past, enshrining them forever as baseball’s greatest of all time.
For a player to be elected to the Hall of Fame, they must receive 75 percent of the total votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America. Many big-ticket players have made it in, such
as George Herman “Babe” Ruth and Hank Aaron. In recent years we have seen names like Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr. inducted.
The hall of fame class of 2017 saw three players and two MLB executives.
Jeff Bagwell, who played all 15 years of his career with the Houston Astros, made it in after his seventh year being on the ballot. Known for his wide squatting stance, he ended with a career .297 batting average and 449 home runs.
Signed by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round in the 1989 amateur draft, Bagwell made his Major League debut with the Houston Astros in 1991. During his tenure with the Astros he saw six postseason appearances, winning the National League pennant in 2005, but getting swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Among his playing career he racked up four All-Star Game appearances, three Silver Sluggers, the 1991 Rookie of the Year, the 1994 NL MVP, Gold Glove and Player of the Year.
His hall of fame bid saw some controversy with allegations of steroid use, that were ultimately unsubstantiated.
Tim Raines, a 23-year veteran of the MLB also saw induction after his 10th year being on the ballot. Making his breakthrough with the late Montreal Expos at 19, Raines .294 career average and a modest 170 home runs. Though he was not known for his power, he was a master on the bases with a .385 on-base percentage and 808 career stolen bases.
With 34 Postseason appearances, along with a World Series win in 1996, the seasoned outfielder saw seven All-Star games, winning the All-Star MVP in 1987 and the 1986 Silver Slugger and NL Batting Title
Ivan Rodriguez was the third player inducted to the class of 2017. After retiring in 2011 with the Washington Nationals, he became eligible for the vote this year, winning 76 percent of the vote on his first ballot. As Rodriguez wrote in a brief memoir on Player’s Tribune, he signed with the Texas Rangers at 16 years old and in 1991, at age 19, he made his debut. Amassing a career .296 average, 311 home runs and 2844 hits, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez made a name for himself as the second catcher to make it into the hall on his first ballot with 14 All-Star appearances, 13 Gold Glove awards, winning ten years in a row starting with his rookie year 1991, a seven-time Silver Slugger, winner of the 1999 MVP and 2003 NLCS MVP. Rodriguez made a career to remember as a great defensive catcher.
Along with the three players, John Schuerholz, Vice-President of the Atlanta Braves, and Allan H. “Bud” Selig, former MLB Commissioner, were also placed as MLB Executives.
Following the World Baseball Classic in March, the MLB regular season starts up April 2.
Contact the author at tlayman16@mail.wou.edu
