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Whoa! Did anyone just notice the HOF induction came and went?


It didn't, but it's about to. Have the fucks for which we give fallen to an all time low when it comes to the Hall of Fame?

I used to love concept as a kid, but the HOF induction just came and went, and I only just noticed now. In past years, there has been build up. There has been the annual post pleading Edgar's case. There has been vehement discussion and debate about the merits of who is in and who is not. But this year...

To summarize this year's vote - surefire, first balloters, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas are in as well as veteran committee choices of three iconic managers - Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa. No real drama or argument here.

What's (still) astounding are the number "Shoeless Joe"s or "Pete Rose"s that are on the ballot - Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds. Legends in their own right - left out of the hall, but not off the ballot. This is an old argument, and I don't feel like beating this dead horse, other than to pose the question: is their absence from the Hall what delegitimizes it in your mind, or would their inclusion delegitemize it for you, or was it already dead to you?

No, the dead horse I want to resurrect is Rafael Palmeiro. The man was a force to be reckoned with in his day, and his 3000+ hits and 500+ HRs just quietly fell off the ballot. His supporters were not as numerous as for the legends noted above. The ol' Viagra spokesman has departed the discussion and is now among the greats who are formally excluded.

I would say he has joined a club that does not include the underrated or borderline, but, in fact, can now play in the Field of Dreams at first base with Shoeless Joe in the outfield, and Pete Rose everywhere else.

Another fun fact: former Mariners, Richie Sexson and Mike Timlin exited the ballot with ZERO votes.