Revealing my Baseball Hall of Fame ballot 2024: Two newcomers join this year's list

NEW YORK – Each year at Hall of Fame election time, familiar waves of joy and anguish arrive with the new ballot.

It’s a kick to see players you covered appear for the first time – to recall stories, games and highlight moments while reviewing their outstanding careers.

And it’s never easy to release that finished ballot into a mailbox (yup, no electronic voting), having hoped to blend various new stats and respected opinions to augment your best judgment.

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Those who follow the trends of Hall of Fame voters won’t find much new here, with eight players checked on my ballot.

Baseball Hall of Fame vote 2024: Who’s on the first ballot, and who might get elected

There are two newcomers and six holdovers, ranked in order of easiest-to-most-difficult calls:

Adrian Beltre

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) speaks during pregame ceremony recognizing his 3000th career hit before a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Globe Life Park in Arlington on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017.

Year on the ballot: First

Over 3,000 hits, nearly 500 home runs, multiple Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards and a comparable batting profile – according to Baseball-Reference.com – to the likes of Eddie Murray and Miguel Cabrera.

Beltre’s election would mark consecutive years for a third baseman’s induction. He should sail in on his first ballot, a year after Scott Rolen made it on his sixth try.

Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield slugged 507 home runs over his career.

Year on the ballot: 10th

This is it for Sheffield on the writers’ ballot, and here’s hoping he gets that Cooperstown call.

Sheffield’s authenticity as a hitter, and in his manner, is best described in Bob Nightengale’s terrific recent USA TODAY column.

Maybe it won’t satisfy those who take a hard line on his brief training association with Barry Bonds, but Sheffield – like those who support Andy Pettitte’s candidacy – deserves every consideration.

This is the ninth time I’ve voted for Sheffield, having once regrettably omitted him.

As mentioned previously, he slashed .304/.411/.551 in a long 14-year prime, averaging 31 homers and just 61 strikeouts per season with a 153 OPS-plus and six top-10 MVP finishes.

Alex Rodriguez

e New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez heads down the first base line as his two-run home run against the New York Mets sails over the left field wall during the third inning in Major League Baseball action Saturday, June, 16, 2007 at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Year on the ballot: Third

Someone with obvious Hall-of-Fame talent from the age of 20 with a batting championship, and later home run titles, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards at shortstop, eventually collecting 3,000 hits and nearly 700 home runs.

And there’s all that ugliness of his twin steroid sagas, with lame denials, frivolous lawsuits and ultimately a year-long MLB suspension. Be sure to mention that historic ban on his Cooperstown plaque.

Manny Ramirez

Cleveland Indians’ Manny Ramirez heads for home to be congratulated by Jim Thome after hitting a sixth-inning home run during their game against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle Sunday, Aug. 22, 1999.

Year on the ballot: Eighth

As with A-Rod, the same applies here.

Ramirez was among the most fearsome right-handed sluggers – if not tops – of his generation, but one whose accomplishments are muddied by failed late-career tests for performance-enhancing drugs.

From the beginning, Rodriguez and Ramirez have had my support due to their unique talents and the undeniable fact that the Steroid Era is a part of MLB’s history.

And the super best of that era has a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s plaque room, which, as you know, is not a hall of saints.

Carlos Beltran

Year on the ballot: Second

He’s not an automatic, so being flagged as the Oppenheimer of the Houston Astros’ electronic sign-stealing scheme damaged Beltran’s 2023 Hall chances.

This is Beltran’s second year on the ballot and his second appearance on mine.

Any hesitation I had was in comparing him with the best center fielders of his era, not his connection to a late-career scandal – one that somehow has Beltran bearing the brunt of consequences.

Omar Vizquel

Aug 18, 1998; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel (13) dives for the ball at Jacobs Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Year on the ballot: Seventh

He reached 52.6 percent on his third ballot, but Vizquel is never getting elected due to disturbing post-career allegations that have since surfaced.

Vizquel was a magician at shortstop, won the last of his 11 Gold Glove awards at age 39, had nearly 3,000 hits, stole over 400 bases and batted .282 over his 15-year prime – not .220 – though his long, elite glovework at a premier position is the draw here.

That’s why he’s received my vote each time.

Todd Helton

Year on the ballot: Sixth

As a voter, I was late to this party, casting my first Helton ballot last year.

Larry Walker didn’t get my vote until his last ballot, but it wasn’t because of any “Coors Field Factor.’’ But I probably applied some of that to the early candidacy of Helton, a career .316 hitter with multiple Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards.

Joe Mauer

Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer waves to fans before Game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series between the Twins and the New York Yankees, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Year on the ballot: First

Mauer’s was the last name checked on my ballot.

Some fine arguments by respected colleagues helped sway my decision along with his three batting titles and four Gold Gloves as a catcher.

Include, too, his five Silver Slugger awards, four top-eight MVP finishes (including the 2009 award) and the future candidacy of Buster Posey.

If you’re inclined to back Posey, who had 623 fewer hits but three more world championships than Mauer (and was also retired by his mid-30s) then the lifelong Minnesota Twin is in.

Also, maybe a future Veterans Committee should take a longer look at Jorge Posada’s candidacy than we did.

These candidates missed the mark

David Wright and Jose Reyes were splendid players, as was Jimmy Rollins.

Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter were top-notch center fielders, Andy Pettitte pitched on eight pennant winners with impact, and the careers of Bobby Abreu and Chase Utley make them worthy candidates.

Each name on a Hall of Fame ballot represents a remarkable career (take a look at Matt Holliday’s prime years). In deciding which players cross a personal Cooperstown threshold, that appreciation is not diminished.

As stated before, relievers – like designated hitters – must clear a super high bar.

For some context on Billy Wagner, and I understand the passion for his election, I never cast votes for Hall of Fame closers Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith. I wasn’t sold on Jeff Kent as a Hall of Fame second baseman, and I’m not there on Utley – yet the conversations continue.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Revealing my Baseball Hall of Fame ballot 2024: Two newcomers join this year’s list