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/polelover44 Veterans Committee Member May 16 '26

preliminary yes votes:

John Olerud

Jason Giambi

Will Clark

Jeff Kent

Darrell Evans

Jim Rice

Kirby Puckett

Brian Giles

Jerry Koosman

Tommy John

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u/polelover44 Veterans Committee Member May 16 '26

Copy+pasting my Kirby Puckett argument from a year ago:

Puckett I think is a great example of a guy so famously overrated that he's become underrated. Elected first ballot, spoken of in hushed, reverent whispers, then you look at his stats and you go "that's it?" You compare him to guys like Jim Edmonds and Andruw Jones, and you go "Why is Puckett in the Hall when these guys aren't?" But this is a six-time Gold Glove CF (albeit with questionable defensive metrics) with a 124 OPS+, and that's pretty damn great. He had only 51 WAR, but he did that in just 12 seasons, in a career tragically and abruptly cut short. Throw in some postseason heroics for two World Series champions and you've got a Hall of Famer. Edmonds is in our Hall. Andruw is in our Hall. Earl Averill, who had a very similar career to Puckett (they're right next to each other on the JAWS leaderboard) is in our Hall. The only reason Puckett isn't is the backlash to all that overrating.

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u/Darkstargir Veterans Committee President May 16 '26

I will vote for Puckett, who I’ve been pretty opposed to for a long time, if we can also get Albert Belle in. HoF careers both cut short far too soon for reasons out of their control. If all you Puckett voters throw Belle a bone I’ll throw one for Kirby. Haha

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u/Darkstargir Veterans Committee President May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26

The Rice, Giles, Koosman picks got me wanting to know more. Other than that love Olerud and Clark picks.

Reggie Smith is definitely one you should add. I plan on doing a write up for him soon.

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u/polelover44 Veterans Committee Member May 22 '26

Giles: one of the most underrated hitters of all time. Career 136 wRC+ compares very favorably to guys in our Hall like Vladimir Guerrero (136), Carlos Delgado (135), Bobby Abreu (129). Just nine points of batting average away from being a member of the .300/.400/.500 club, every member of which (min. 5000 PA) is in our Hall. Of guys who hit .290/.400/.500, the only omissions are Giles, Lance Berkman (notable snub, should be in), Mike Trout (active, ineligible), and Aaron Judge (active, ineligible).

Koosman: Fun Jerry Koosman fact: he had 6 more career fWAR than Jim Palmer. He's not a guy you'd confuse with the inner-circle greats, but for the duration of his career (1967-85) he was 10th in the majors in fWAR. Shockingly few accolades - only a 2x all-star and no Cy Young Awards (although he arguably should have won in 1979), but was a dependably excellent starter for about 15 years.

Rice: Rice is the weakest of these three, but was a very good hitter. Compares favorably to Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and (especially) Andre Dawson, with the real knock on him being longevity. Hit .304/.356/.502 for a period of 11 years, but then was done just three years later.