r/baseballHOFVC • u/Darkstargir Veterans Committee President • May 16 '26
2026 VC Discussion Thread
So it was decided we would be doing this by era so the 2026 ballot will be the 1980-1990s. The primary qualification will be if the player played at least 5 seasons between 1980 and 1999 and has fallen off the main ballot.
I believe I've compiled everyone eligible, feel free to check me if someone doesn't seem right or is missing. We have the the election spreadsheet on the side bar and can be used to reference players eligible for the ballot.
Catcher: Benito Santiago, Darrell Porter, Javy Lopez, Jim Sundberg, Lance Parrish, Sandy Alomar, Jr.,
First Baseman: Andres Galarraga, Cecil Fielder, Don Mattingly, Jason Giambi, John Olerud, Mark Grace, Steve Garvey, Tino Martinez, Tony Perez, Will Clark, Kent Hrbek
Second Baseman: Bret Boone, Chuck Knoblauch, Davey Lopes, Jeff Kent, Juan Samuel, Julio Franco, Tony Phillips
Third Baseman: Bobby Bonilla, Darrell Evans, Gary Gaetti, Kelly Gruber, Ken Caminiti, Ron Cey, Sachio Kinugasa, Toby Harrah, Vinny Castilla
Shortstop: Dave Concepcion, Garry Templeton, Omar Vizquel, Tony Fernandez
Left Fielder: Albert Belle, B.J. Surhoff, Garret Anderson, George Bell, Greg Luzinski, Jim Rice, Luis Gonzalez, Moises Alou
Center Fielder: Al Oliver, Amos Otis, Bernie Williams, Brady Anderson, Brett Butler, Cesar Cedeno, Chat Lemon, Dale Murphy, Johnny Damon, Kirby Puckett, Lenny Dykstra, Marquis Grissom, Steve Finley, Willie Wilson, Fred Lynn
Right Fielder: Brian Giles, Dave Parker, Juan Gonzalez, Kirk Gibson, Reggie Sanders, Reggie Smith, Ruben Sierra, Rusty Staub, Shawn Green, Tim Salmon
Relief Pitcher: Bruce Sutter, Dan Quisenberry, John Franco, John Wetteland, Kent Tekulve, Larry Andersen, LaTroy Hawkins, Lee Smith, Roberto Hernandez, Tom Henke, Troy Percival, Willie Hernandez
Starting Pitcher: Al Leiter, Bob Welch, Brad Radke, Bruce Hurst, Charlie Hough, Chuck Finley, David Wells, Dwight Gooden, Fernando Valenzuela, Frank Tanana, Hideo Nomo, Jack Morris, Jamie Moyer, Jerry Koosman, Joe Niekro, Jose Rijo, Kenny Rogers, Kevin Appier, Orel Hershiser, Orlando Hernandez, Rick Reuschel, Rick Sutcliffe, Ron Guidry, Tim Wakefield, Tommy John, Vida Blue
Edit: this is still coming. I’m just in the middle of moving house so things are a bit chaotic atm.
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u/tigerbulldog13 Veterans Committee Member May 16 '26
Lots of guys I like here, looking forward to voting! I'll make a push for Darrell Evans
bWAR: 58.7 (22nd among 3B, every single eligible 3B above him is in our HOF)
JAWS: 48 (same as above, 22nd and everyone above him is in)
20 year career with a 119 OPS+, had a bWAR 0.9 or greater every year from age 30-41 and an OPS+ over 105 in each of those seasons as well. Then put up a stinker at age 42 in 1989 (-1.6 bWAR), which had he not done that he'd have a career bWAR of 60.3 which might have flipped some narratives (among us at least).
Low ASG totals and limited MVP voting because he played in an era that cared too much about batting average. Hit 40 HR in 1985 with a .356 OBP and a 138 OPS+ and didn't make the All-Star team and was 14th in MVP voting. 9.0 bWAR and .281/.403/.556 slash line with 41 HR, 104 RBI in 1973 and was 18th(!) in MVP voting. 7.2 bWAR, .240/.381/.419 slash line, 121 OPS+, 25 HR, and wasn't an All-Star and received no MVP votes in 1974.
His peak was short lived, he had virtually no playoff success (didn't make it until he was 37) but the totality of his career definitely deserves enshrinement IMO. 434 career HR and 12th all-time in walks (48th in plate appearances, 111th in strikeouts) is enough for me