I remember doing this in the basketball fourm. Thought it would be interesting to do it here. Here are my guys.
Sure fire first ballot
Randy Johnson - The most dominate lefty to play. No disrespect to Koufax, Spahn or Carlton.
Mariano Rivera - The greatest closer of all time. And YES, I saw Dennis Eckerseley play.
Manny Rameriez - In his 13 years of baseball I believe only Ted Williams can match those numbers.
Ivan Rodriguez - Look up the definition of a 'complete catcher' in the dictionary and there is a 11x8 photo of Rodriguez.
Frank Thomas - Call it what you want but no one dominated hitting like Frank Thomas did in the early and middle part of the 90's. He did what Manny Rameriez is doing now with a little less power and more walks.
Chipper Jones - Great 3rd basemen seems to appear and fall off during his playing days BUT Jones has always been in the top 3 the past 11 years.
Tom Glavine - Only Clemens and Maddux can garner better career numbers than this guy.
Perdo Martinez - Many would argue BUT can you name me more than 3 guys playing now who has better numbers their first 13 years in the league?
John Smotlz - Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersely is the only other pitcher with a 20 win season and 50 save season.
Roger Clemens - YOU REALLY WANT TO ARGUE WITH ME ON THIS?
Greg Maddux - DITTO!
Ken Griffey Jr. - He alomost didn't make this side of the list if he didn't have such a stellar career his first 11 years.
Barry Bonds - Yes, I know. It really pisses me off that this jerk will be in the hall. BUT I only put him in because he was a sure fire HOF before he took the 'roids. Was one of the best 5-tool players off all time...now he's a tool!
A few more solid season and they're in
Alex Rodriguez - Another 5-tool player who is not as big a tool as Bonds because sometimes Rodriguez doesn't know what the hell he's saying or doing off the field.
Derek Jeter - I'd personally wouldn't vote for him on first ballot BUT because he's been the Yankees coverboy for their championship seasons he'll be remembered for that.
Bernie Williams - Needs to play elsewhere to solidify his Hall status.
Mike Mussina - Quietly, having a career that many would envy. Doesn't need to have steallar years but good years.
Rafeal Palmerio - Technically, it looks like he won't be playing again but unfortunately he'll get in because of the number. BUT just not first ballot.
Jim Thome - His high strike outs and injury season from last year keeps him from being first ballot right now BUT he still has time to make up for it.
Vladmir Guerrero - The best free swinger in baseball who rarely strikes out. The ball just jumps off his bat.
Ichiro Suzuki - If he'd played all his years in the MLB and put up the numbers he's putting up he'd be on the previous list, NO DOUBT.
Carlos Delgado - He needs to start amping up his performance. He has a clear shot for the Hall but as others step up their game in his era so should he.
Jeff Bagwell - What will secure his Hall status is if he plays in the American League as a DH. And with the up coming surgery it looks like that won't happen.
Brian Giles - Amazing enough he's queitly put up some nice numbers BUT at 34 one wonders if he'll play enough seasons to get to the Hall.
Jeff Kent - One of the best power hitting 2nd baseman. BUT one wonders the validaity of his increased stats during the steroids era.
Todd Helton - The numbers don't lie BUT playing in Colorado is almost like being on steriods without the controversey. In a sense, he'll make it because it's not his fault.
Mike Piazza - He's got to play more 1st base to get on the field more. Just two more solid seasons and he's in.
Either Close and no cigar OR still got a ways to go
Gary Sheffield - The 'roids killed his chances. Even though he was on pace for the hall before the 'roids.
David Ortiz - Is on pace BUT he's got a long way. He'll get there if he keeps playing DH.
Miguel Tejada - More productive seasons on the way and not just a couple.
Sammy Sosa - Mr.Selfish will merit ballots because of his numbers BUT the 'roids issue will kick in. Not first ballot.
Javey Lopez - Should have stayed in Atlanta and played catcher. Would have been the 2nd best catcher in his era next to Ivan Rodriguez.
Paul Konerko - Homer pick.
Mark Buerhle - OK. This is legit. No homer pick here. 85 wins in 6 seasons. Only Maddux with slightly better numbers his first 6 seasons.
Eric Chavez - Young 3rd baseman who could explode at anytime. BUT even with the solid numbers he's putting up had have to do a little more to ganer Hall recognition.
Jamie Moyer - Nice career after 30 but just a little too late for his Hall chances.
Andrew Jones - From the minute he stepped on the field he looked like a Hall of Fame. BUT looks aren't everything.
Albert Pujols - 'FAT ALBERT' is looking not only at the Hall but greatest hitter of all time status he keeps this up.
Criag Biggio - May get in on second ballot BUT his position switching during his career may have hurt his first ballot Hall chances.
Roy Oswalt - A 'Baby Roger Clemens' in the making.
Sure fire first ballot
Randy Johnson - The most dominate lefty to play. No disrespect to Koufax, Spahn or Carlton.
Mariano Rivera - The greatest closer of all time. And YES, I saw Dennis Eckerseley play.
Manny Rameriez - In his 13 years of baseball I believe only Ted Williams can match those numbers.
Ivan Rodriguez - Look up the definition of a 'complete catcher' in the dictionary and there is a 11x8 photo of Rodriguez.
Frank Thomas - Call it what you want but no one dominated hitting like Frank Thomas did in the early and middle part of the 90's. He did what Manny Rameriez is doing now with a little less power and more walks.
Chipper Jones - Great 3rd basemen seems to appear and fall off during his playing days BUT Jones has always been in the top 3 the past 11 years.
Tom Glavine - Only Clemens and Maddux can garner better career numbers than this guy.
Perdo Martinez - Many would argue BUT can you name me more than 3 guys playing now who has better numbers their first 13 years in the league?
John Smotlz - Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersely is the only other pitcher with a 20 win season and 50 save season.
Roger Clemens - YOU REALLY WANT TO ARGUE WITH ME ON THIS?
Greg Maddux - DITTO!
Ken Griffey Jr. - He alomost didn't make this side of the list if he didn't have such a stellar career his first 11 years.
Barry Bonds - Yes, I know. It really pisses me off that this jerk will be in the hall. BUT I only put him in because he was a sure fire HOF before he took the 'roids. Was one of the best 5-tool players off all time...now he's a tool!
A few more solid season and they're in
Alex Rodriguez - Another 5-tool player who is not as big a tool as Bonds because sometimes Rodriguez doesn't know what the hell he's saying or doing off the field.
Derek Jeter - I'd personally wouldn't vote for him on first ballot BUT because he's been the Yankees coverboy for their championship seasons he'll be remembered for that.
Bernie Williams - Needs to play elsewhere to solidify his Hall status.
Mike Mussina - Quietly, having a career that many would envy. Doesn't need to have steallar years but good years.
Rafeal Palmerio - Technically, it looks like he won't be playing again but unfortunately he'll get in because of the number. BUT just not first ballot.
Jim Thome - His high strike outs and injury season from last year keeps him from being first ballot right now BUT he still has time to make up for it.
Vladmir Guerrero - The best free swinger in baseball who rarely strikes out. The ball just jumps off his bat.
Ichiro Suzuki - If he'd played all his years in the MLB and put up the numbers he's putting up he'd be on the previous list, NO DOUBT.
Carlos Delgado - He needs to start amping up his performance. He has a clear shot for the Hall but as others step up their game in his era so should he.
Jeff Bagwell - What will secure his Hall status is if he plays in the American League as a DH. And with the up coming surgery it looks like that won't happen.
Brian Giles - Amazing enough he's queitly put up some nice numbers BUT at 34 one wonders if he'll play enough seasons to get to the Hall.
Jeff Kent - One of the best power hitting 2nd baseman. BUT one wonders the validaity of his increased stats during the steroids era.
Todd Helton - The numbers don't lie BUT playing in Colorado is almost like being on steriods without the controversey. In a sense, he'll make it because it's not his fault.
Mike Piazza - He's got to play more 1st base to get on the field more. Just two more solid seasons and he's in.
Either Close and no cigar OR still got a ways to go
Gary Sheffield - The 'roids killed his chances. Even though he was on pace for the hall before the 'roids.
David Ortiz - Is on pace BUT he's got a long way. He'll get there if he keeps playing DH.
Miguel Tejada - More productive seasons on the way and not just a couple.
Sammy Sosa - Mr.Selfish will merit ballots because of his numbers BUT the 'roids issue will kick in. Not first ballot.
Javey Lopez - Should have stayed in Atlanta and played catcher. Would have been the 2nd best catcher in his era next to Ivan Rodriguez.
Paul Konerko - Homer pick.
Mark Buerhle - OK. This is legit. No homer pick here. 85 wins in 6 seasons. Only Maddux with slightly better numbers his first 6 seasons.
Eric Chavez - Young 3rd baseman who could explode at anytime. BUT even with the solid numbers he's putting up had have to do a little more to ganer Hall recognition.
Jamie Moyer - Nice career after 30 but just a little too late for his Hall chances.
Andrew Jones - From the minute he stepped on the field he looked like a Hall of Fame. BUT looks aren't everything.
Albert Pujols - 'FAT ALBERT' is looking not only at the Hall but greatest hitter of all time status he keeps this up.
Criag Biggio - May get in on second ballot BUT his position switching during his career may have hurt his first ballot Hall chances.
Roy Oswalt - A 'Baby Roger Clemens' in the making.
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