Bert Blyleven

The Baseball Writers Association of America will soon decide who will be elected into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Among those who are trying to make it to Cooperstown, I believe only five will receive the necessary 75 percent needed to make it to the Hall.

First-timers include three MVPs in Jeff Bagwell (1994), Larry Walker (1997), and Juan Gonzalez (1996 and 1998). Another first-timer is Rafael Palmeiro, who probably would've been a shoe-in his first try, but it was revealed in 2005 that he used steroids.

As we approach the voting results for the Hall of Fame this year, Bert Blyleven's case deserves one more look.  It has been a long and arduous path for Blyleven gaining votes almost yearly until last year he was but five votes short of induction to baseball's highest honor.  This path reminds me of his career — 4970 innings, twice fighting back from injury to reclaim excellence.

As we rapidly approach January, members the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) are filling out their ballots for the 2011 inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  With the Winter Meetings over, January's HOF announcement is the biggest story until pitchers and catchers report in about six weeks.

Just in case anyone missed the month old occurrence, the BBWAA elected their Hall of Fame class for 2010.

Standard for the course, a lot of anger resulted from the public this year over some noteworthy omissions. Robbie Alomar was one, and Bert Blyleven was denied admission to the Hall in his next to last go around.

Congratulations to Andre Dawson, but the voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame is a joke.

Every year baseball fans make a big deal about the Hall of Fame elections. Every year before the votes are cast, writers everywhere make their cases for who deserves to be in and who doesn't. Every year when all is said and done the fans complain about who got in and who didn't get in.

Bert Blyleven is the strongest force in the complaint department this year.

It shouldn't surprise me anymore, but it does.

The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) failed to elect Bert Blyleven into the Hall of Fame by five votes. He received 74.2 percent of the votes when 75 percent is needed.

For the 13th straight year, Bert Blyleven failed to gain induction into the Hall of Fame, this time by the slimmest of margins as he received 74.2 percent of the vote (75 percent is necessary for induction). 

Often considered the best pitcher without a plaque in Cooperstown, the right-hander will remain just that for at least another 12 months, and it's not right.

With the official balloting results set to be announced January 6, I decided to make my predictions at how this year's MLB Hall of Fame voting will shake out. This is not necessarily how I would vote, but instead a prediction of what I think will happen. Let's look at the ballot.

The First Timers:
Roberto Alomar, Edgar Martinez, Barry Larkin, Andres Galarraga, Fred McGriff, Mike Jackson, Ellis Burks, Pat Hentgen, Robin Ventura, Kevin Appier, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, and Todd Zeile.

I love January, it's a start to a new year or in this case a new decade and it's the start of a new class for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

The most sacred place in all of baseball is Cooperstown, every one wants to be there but only the best of the best are allowed in.

This years ballot will consist of fifteen new names along with the eleven that got over 5% of the vote last year.

I, like every baseball fan, wish I had the ability to vote, but I don't, so I can't vote for my ten guys, but I can make a slideshow of them.

I will rank from the least deserving (10) to the most (1).<

Bert Blyleven belongs in the Hall of Fame.

In fact, he’s belonged in the Hall of Fame for 12 years.

Yet, for 12 years in a row, the Baseball Writers Association of American has erred by leaving him out in the cold when the voting results are announced.