Baseball Hall of Fame Projections

By Thomas Delatte on

On April 8th, 1991, the Houston Astros faced the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium in front of nearly 60,000 screaming and amped up Reds fans, fresh off the 1990 World Series championship their team won the previous summer. Unfortunately for the Astros, they lost 6-2 and would go on to finish the season with a 65-97 record, the second worst in baseball that year. But that is not why the Astros remember the 1991 season.

They remember it because, during that opening weekend, they debuted a skinny young first baseman from Connecticut, Jeff Bagwell. He wound up playing in 156 games in 1991 and finished with a .294 batting average, 163 hits, 15 home runs, 82 runs batted in, 79 runs, and 26 doubles. It was the beginning of an amazing 15-year career with the Astros that would lead to the first baseman’s induction into the 2017 Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, and Ivan Rodriguez today became just three of the 249 former MLB players who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The first class of players was introduced in 1936 when Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, and Ty Cobb were inducted.

So on Hall of Fame Induction Day, we’d like to take the time to admire those who have not been voted in just yet but should be very soon by predicting the next five Hall of Fame classes. Enjoy.

2018: Trevor Hoffman, RHP

Seasons: 17 (1993-2010)
Year Eligible: 2016
Years on Ballot: 3rd Time
Teams: Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers
Awards
- 7x All-Star, 2x Rolaids Relief Man Award
Pitching Stats
- Games: 1,035
- Record: 61-75
- Saves: 601
- ERA: 2.87
- Strikeouts: 1,133
- Walks: 307
- SO/9: 9.4
- WHIP: 1.059

2018: Vladimir Guerrero, OF

Seasons: 15 (1996-2011)
Year Eligible: 2017
Years on Ballot: 2nd
Teams: Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles
Awards
- 9x All-Star, AL MVP, 8x Silver Slugger
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.318
- OBP: 0.379
- Runs: 1,328
- Hits: 2,590
- 2B: 477
- HR: 449
- RBI: 1,496
- Strikeouts: 985
- Stolen Bases: 181

2018: Chipper Jones, 3B

Seasons: 19 (1993-2012)
Year Eligible: 2018
Years on Ballot: 1st
Team: Atlanta Braves
Awards
- 8x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger, NL MVP, World Series Champion
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.303
- OBP: 0.401
- Runs: 1,619
- Hits: 2,726
- 2B: 549
- HR: 468
- RBI: 1,623
- Walks: 1,512
- Stolen Bases: 150

2019: Mariano Rivera, RHP

Seasons: 18 (1995-2013)
Year Eligible: 2019
Years on Ballot: 1st
Team: New York Yankees
Awards
- 13x All-Star, 5x Rolaids Relief Man Award, 3x Delivery Man of the Year, AL Comeback Player of the Year, 5x World Series Champion, World Series MVP, ALCS MVP
Pitching Stats
- Games: 1,115
- Record: 82-60
- Saves: 652
- ERA: 2.21
- Strikeouts: 1,173
- Walks: 286
- SO/9: 8.2
- WHIP: 1.001

2019: Jim Thome, 3B/DH

Seasons: 21 (1991-2012)
Year Eligible: 2018
Years on Ballot: 2nd
Teams: Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles
Awards
- 5x All-Star, Silver Slugger, AL Comeback Player of the Year
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.276
- OBP: 0.402
- Runs: 1,583
- Hits: 2,328
- 2B: 451
- HR: 612
- RBI: 1,699
- Walks: 1,747

2019: Edgar Martinez, DH

Seasons: 17 (1987-2004)
Year Eligible: 2010
Years on Ballot: 10th
Team: Seattle Mariners
Awards
- 7x All-Star, 5x Silver Slugger
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.312
- OBP: 0.418
- Runs: 1,219
- Hits: 2,247
- 2B: 514
- HR: 309
- RBI: 1,261
- Walks: 1,283

2019: Todd Helton, 1B

Seasons: 16 (1997-2013)
Year Eligible: 2019
Years on Ballot: 1st
Teams: Colorado Rockies
Awards
- 5x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove, 4x Silver Slugger
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.316
- OBP: 0.414
- Runs: 1,401
- Hits: 2,519
- 2B: 592
- HR: 369
- RBI: 1,406
- Walks: 1,335

2019: Mike Mussina, RHP

Seasons: 17 (1991-2008)
Year Eligible: 2014
Years on Ballot: 6th
Teams: Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees
Awards
- 5x All-Star, 7x Gold Glove
Pitching Stats
- Starts: 536
- Record: 270-153
- Complete Games: 57
- Shutouts: 23
- ERA: 3.68
- Strikeouts: 2,813
- Walks: 785
- SO/9: 7.1
- WHIP: 1.192

2020: Derek Jeter, SS

Seasons: 19 (1995-2014)
Year Eligible: 2020
Years on Ballot: 1st
Teams: New York Yankees
Awards
- 14x All-Star, 5x Gold Glove, 5x Silver Slugger, 5x World Series Champion, World Series MVP, AL Rookie of the Year
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.310
- OBP: 0.377
- Runs: 1,923
- Hits: 3,465
- 2B: 544
- HR: 260
- RBI: 1,311
- Walks: 1,082
- Stolen Bases: 358

2020: Barry Bonds, LF

Seasons: 21 (1986-2007)
Year Eligible: 2013
Years on Ballot: 8th
Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants
Awards
- 14x All-Star, 8x Gold Glove, 7x NL MVPP, 12x Silver Slugger, 3x Hank Aaron Award, MLB Home Runs Career Leader
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.298
- OBP: 0.444
- Runs: 2,227
- Hits: 2,935
- 2B: 601
- HR: 762
- RBI: 1,996
- Walks: 2,558
- Stolen Bases: 514

2020: Larry Walker, 1B/RF

Seasons: 16 (1989-2005)
Year Eligible: 2011
Years on Ballot: 10th
Teams: Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, St.Louis Cardinals
Awards
- 5x All-Star, 7x Gold Glove, 3x Silver Slugger, NL MVP
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.313
- OBP: 0.400
- Runs: 1,355
- Hits: 2,160
- 2B: 471
- HR: 383
- RBI: 1,311
- Walks: 913
- Stolen Bases: 230

2020: Roy Halladay, RHP

Seasons: 15 (1998-2013)
Year Eligible: 2019
Years on Ballot: 2nd
Teams: Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies
Awards
- 8x All-Star, 2x Cy Young, Perfect Game (2010), Postseason No-Hitter (2010)
Pitching Stats
- Starts: 390
- Record: 203-105
- ERA: 3.38
- Strikeouts: 2,117
- Walks: 592
- SO/9: 6.9
- WHIP: 1.178

2021: Curt Schilling, RHP

Seasons: 19 (1988-2007)
Year Eligible: 2013
Years on Ballot: 9th
Teams: Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox
Awards
- 6x All-Star, 3x World Series Champion, World Series MVP, NLCS MVP
Pitching Stats
- Starts: 436
- Record: 216-146
- Saves: 22
- ERA: 3.46
- Strikeouts: 3,116
- Walks: 711
- SO/9: 8.6
- WHIP: 1.137

2021: Gary Sheffield, RF

Seasons: 21 (1988-2009)
Year Eligible: 2015
Years on Ballot: 7th
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets
Awards
- 9x All-Star, 5x Silver Slugger, World Series Champion
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.292
- OBP: 0.393
- Runs: 1,636
- Hits: 2,689
- 2B: 467
- HR: 509
- RBI: 1,676
- Walks: 1,475
- Stolen Bases: 253

2021: Jeff Kent, 2B

Seasons: 16 (1992-2008)
Year Eligible: 2014
Years on Ballot: 8th
Teams: Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers
Awards
- 5x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, NL MVP
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.290
- OBP: 0.356
- Runs: 1,320
- Hits: 2,461
- 2B: 560
- HR: 377
- RBI: 1,518
- Walks: 801

2021: Billy Wagner, LHP

Seasons: 15 (1995-2010)
Year Eligible: 2016
Years on Ballot: 6th
Teams: Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves
Awards
- 7x All-Star, NL Rolaids Relief Man Award
Pitching Stats
- Games: 853
- Record: 47-40
- Saves: 422
- ERA: 2.31
- Strikeouts: 1,196
- Walks: 300
- SO/9: 11.9
- WHIP: 0.998

2022: Alex Rodriguez, SS/3B

Seasons: 22 (1994-2016)
Year Eligible: 2022
Years on Ballot: 1st
Teams: Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees
Awards
- 14x All-Star, 3x AL MVP, 2x Gold Glove, 10x Silver Slugger, World Series Champion, 4x AL Hank Aaron Award
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.295
- OBP: 0.380
- Runs: 2,021
- Hits: 3,115
- 2B: 548
- HR: 696
- RBI: 2,086
- Walks: 1,338
- Stolen Bases: 329

2022: David Ortiz, DH

Seasons: 19 (1997-2016)
Year Eligible: 2022
Years on Ballot: 1st
Teams: Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox
Awards
- 10x All-Star, 7x Silver Slugger, 3x World Series Champion, World Series MVP, ALCS MVP, 2x AL Hank Aaron Award
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.286
- OBP: 0.380
- Runs: 1,419
- Hits: 2,472
- 2B: 632
- HR: 541
- RBI: 1,768
- Walks: 1,319

2022: Roger Clemens, RHP

Seasons: 24 (1984-2007)
Year Eligible: 2013
Years on Ballot: 10th
Teams: Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Houston Astros
Awards
- 11x All-Star, 7x Cy Young, 2x Triple Crown, 2x World Series Champion, 7x ERA Leader, 5x AL Strikeouts Leader, 4x MLB Wins Leader
Pitching Stats
- Starts: 707
- Record: 354-184
- ERA: 3.12
- Strikeouts: 4,672
- Walks: 1,580
- SO/9: 8.6
- WHIP: 1.173

2022: Ichiro Suzuki, OF

Seasons: 16 (2001-2017)
Year Eligible: 2022
Years on Ballot: 1st
Teams: Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins
Awards
- 10x All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, 10x Gold Glove, 3x Silver Slugger, AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year
Hitting Stats
- Avg: 0.312
- OBP: 0.355
- Runs: 1,408
- Hits: 3,055
- 2B: 358
- HR: 116
- RBI: 769
- Walks: 632
- Stolen Bases: 508