The Baseball Hall of Fame’s selection process returned on Tuesday to stupefy and enrage baseball fans across the world.
While there were many deserving candidates eligible for 2023’s class, only former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen crossed the 75-percent voting threshold to earn a spot in the sport’s prestigious hall.
The Hall’s Contemporary Era Committee selected former first baseman Fred McGriff in December. He’s the only other player that will join Rolen in this year’s class.
Rolen also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds during his illustrious career. He’s a seven-time MLB All-Star, eight-time Golden Glove winner and 2006 World Series champion.
While Rolen more than earned his spot in the hall, baseball fans wondered why he was the only one selected of his grouping.
Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, former Houston Astros relief pitcher Billy Wagner and former Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones were among those who received attention from the voters. Although, it was not enough to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame this time.
Per MLB Network, Rolen hit the 75% thresh-hold by 1.3%. Todd Helton missed the mark by 2.8%. Billy Wagner, Andruw Jones, Gary Sheffield received 50% of the vote. pic.twitter.com/6H2c7FbOVf
— Kris Norton (@KrisNortonRadio) January 24, 2023
The sole fact that it takes a player at least 292 votes to be named to the Hall of Fame continues to irk many baseball fans.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America continuing to shun players who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs (like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire) in its voting doesn’t help quell outrage, either.