Normally I listen to the MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM radio when I drive to work in the morning but recently they’ve been talking about the Hall of Fame vote.  For some people this might be an interesting conversation but I find it to be a waste of my time.  I know it is the worst attitude to have but there is no reason to care simply because there is nothing I can do to affect the voting.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote for who they think belong in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  The Hall of Fame encourages fans to come and visit the Hall of Fame to see exhibits about the famous players that have been voted in and memorabilia from games in the past.  Major League Baseball invites fans to vote for the all stars every year, why is the Hall of Fame left to one single group every year?

For instance, in 2015 we saw Carlos Delgado receive only 3.8% of the vote but take a look at this case for Delgado from amazinavenue.com

“Delgado was one of the best power hitters of his generation. In his 17 seasons in the big leagues, the first baseman hit an excellent .280/.383/.546 (135 wRC+), with 473 home runs, 1,512 RBIs, 2,038 hits, 1,241 runs scored, and 44.2 fWAR. Only 31 players in the history of the game hit more home runs than Delgado, and of those 31, 30 are either Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, or would have been Hall of Famers were it not for suspected PED use. Delgado also ranks 29th all time in slugging percentage and is in similarly elite company there. Among first basemen only, Delgado ranks 11th in slugging percentage, 15th in home runs, and 18th in RBIs.

Delgado’s peak lasted from 1998 to 2006, when he played for the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Mets. During that time, he hit .290/.402/.576 (146 wRC+), and averaged 38 homers, 119 RBIs, 99 runs scored, 38 doubles, and 4.3 fWAR per year. Delgado’s best season came in 2000, when he hit a tremendous .344/.470/.664 (179 wRC+)—all career highs—with 41 home runs, 137 RBIs, 115 runs scored, a league-leading 57 doubles, and 7.4 fWAR.

In 2006, Delgado became one of just six players in the history of the game to hit at least 30 homers in 10 consecutive seasons. In 2003, he became one of just 16 players to homer four times in a single game, which you can watch below. Delgado had another brilliant performance in a game against the Yankees in 2008, when he drove in nine runs to set the Mets’ franchise record. Only 13 players in baseball history have driven in more runs in a single game.”

I realize that I’m a Blue Jays fan and I saw Delgado power the Jays through many games but to not give Delgado love is absurd.  Delgado is also the 2000 AL Hank Aaron Award winner, 2000 Major League Player of the Year Award winner and the 2006 Roberto Clemente Award winner.

Comparing Delgado to Piazza isn’t fair because they played different positions however, Delgado played one more year and had more plate appearances more at bats.  But Piazza had a little under a hundred more hits while Delgado has more doubles, runs, triples, home runs, rbis, walks, a better OBP, a better .SLG, more TB, more SF and IBB.  Also Delgado played in 162 games in 2 seasons in a row,2000-2001, being dependable at the plate and on the field as he featured for his team at least 128+ times from 1996 to 2008.

What I can’t understand is now Delgado can’t be considered until 2026 with the Expansion Era Committee.  It feels like this vote is a popularity contest with the writers in some ways.  The PED era players are feeling that.  The fans should get a say in this now.  It’s time to change with the times.

I get that the Hall of Fame is an exclusive club.  But why should this group of writers be the only ones that vote?  If this is the way it’s going to be they should change the sign on the door and make it the “Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame.”  Why not give the fans a say?  It is the fans they want to visit it.  Give the fans a percentage.  Give the current Hall of Famers a percentage.  No one has to take the major percentage away from the writers but give some say back to the fans especially in situations like this.  If they want more fans to visit the Hall of Fame, give them a reason to, give them more incentive and give them some involvement.  It’s not the fans Hall of Fame, it’s the writers’ Hall of Fame and until they give the fans some involvement it won’t be a fair fight.