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