The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot includes a fascinating mix of candidates. At the same time, Ichiro Suzuki is a sure first-ballot inductee; no other offensive player scores above 100 on Baseball Reference’s Hall of Fame monitor. Despite this, the ballot boasts players with extraordinary careers. Many earned MVP titles, secured World Series championships, and achieved other significant milestones.
As we await the voting results on January 21, Let’s delve into the careers of these remarkable players. Together, we’ll uncover what made each of them stand out and cemented their legacies in the sport.
How Does A Player Make The HOF Ballot?
If you’re a baseball fan, you’ve likely wondered how players earn a spot on the Hall of Fame ballot—especially when some, despite their accomplishments, fail to get the necessary votes. Here’s a breakdown of the qualifications and selection process for the BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) Hall of Fame ballot.
1. Retirement: The 5-Year Waiting Period
- To qualify, a player must retire and wait at least five full seasons before being eligible for the ballot.
- The waiting period allows voters to evaluate a player’s career legacy without being influenced by the emotional highs or lows of their final performances. It ensures a more measured and thoughtful approach to assessing their contributions to the game.
2. How Players Are Selected For The Ballot
Unlike many other awards, the BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) automatically includes eligible players on the Hall of Fame ballot. Players don’t need to apply or be nominated. Once a player has been retired for five years, they qualify for consideration. However, eligibility depends on meeting a few general criteria.
- Career Length: While there isn’t a strict rule about how many years a player must have competed in the majors, most candidates have careers lasting at least 10 seasons. Though not officially required, longer careers with consistent performance often appeal more to voters. Players who stand out during shorter careers can still make the ballot if they’ve made a significant mark on the game.
- Impact: The BBWAA tends to favor players who have made a meaningful impact through their performance, achievements, or influence. Milestones like 3,000 hits or 500 home runs significantly improve a player’s chances of being included on the ballot. These accomplishments demonstrate excellence and make candidates more compelling for induction.
3. The Voting Process
Once players qualify for the ballot, the voting process determines who gets inducted into the Hall of Fame. Members of the BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America)—a group of sportswriters and journalists who cover baseball—cast their votes to decide the inductees.
- 75% Threshold: To be inducted, a player must receive at least 75% of the votes from BBWAA members. Achieving this high percentage ensures only the most deserving players are enshrined.
- The 5% Rule: If a player earns less than 5% of the vote in any given year, they are removed from the ballot. This rule explains why some players, even with long and successful careers, never get another chance at election.
- 10-Year Limit: Players can stay on the ballot for a maximum of 10 years. If they aren’t elected during this period, they are removed and must wait for potential consideration by the Veterans Committee.
4. The Classic Baseball Era Committee: Another Path To The Hall
- Not all players get in through the BBWAA vote. Those who have been overlooked or who played in eras when voting wasn’t as widespread may still have a chance at induction through the Classic Baseball Era Committee . This committee comprises former players, managers, executives, and historians who review the careers of players who didn’t make it on the ballot or whose careers deserve additional scrutiny.
- The “Veterans” Committee focuses mainly on players from earlier eras of the game, or those whose accomplishments might not have been fully appreciated in their time.
Now that we know how these players found their way onto the ballot, let’s get into our first deep dive.
From “Below-Average Power” To 344 Home Runs: Is This Outfielder Cooperstown Bound?
Curtis Granderson
Scouts once predicted “The Grandyman” would deliver “slightly below-average power” and “slightly above-average running.” They even doubted he could achieve league-average power. However, as his career unfolded, Granderson far exceeded these modest expectations, proving those early assessments wrong.
Curtis Granderson was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2002 MLB Draft. The 6’1″, 200-pound outfielder enjoyed a well-traveled 16-year career, playing for Detroit, both New York teams (most notably as a Yankees outfielder), Miami, Toronto, Los Angeles (NL), and Milwaukee.
Granderson’s Origins
He played both baseball and basketball in high school and briefly at the University of Illinois at Chicago. After two weeks, he decided to focus solely on baseball.
Granderson’s high school retired his No. 14 jersey, and his college honored him by retiring No. 28. He earned a spot on three All-Star teams (2009, 2011, 2012). Won a Silver Slugger Award in 2011 and received the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award in 2016. He also garnered MVP votes in three seasons, with his best finish being fourth place.
Finding His Power Stroke
Granderson started his career with a very open stance, a non-neutral shin angle, hands shoulder high with a memorable hand row, and slightly bent knees. A young, athletic Granderson was successful with a short, quick swing and an ability to rifle balls from gap to gap. Scouts discounted Granderson’s power ability because of his thin frame, but his lightning-quick hands made up for it. His approach allowed him to punish balls pitched into his power zones and laser well-located fastballs and backdoor-breaking balls on the outer half.
As the early 2010s unfolded and Granderson joined the Yankees, he adjusted his stance by bringing his hands up to head level while maintaining consistent hand movement. In 2011, he adopted a stance he would largely keep for the remainder of his career. This setup resembled his early Tigers days, featuring low-set hands in an athletic, low position.
The most significant change was closing his stance and aligning his front toe with his back heel. This adjustment coincided with a surge in power. Granderson hit 30 home runs for the first time, followed by back-to-back 40-home run seasons. He achieved this by increasing his flyball rate by 7-9% and boosting his Hard-Hit percentage by 6%.
While this change contributed to his power numbers, it wasn’t the sole reason for his success. For instance, Granderson posted a stellar 136 wRC+ in 2007, showing he was 36% better than the league average. However, the stance tweak did help him achieve his best career year in 2011—a perfect segue into what came next.
Career Year Breakdown
Curtis Granderson always had the juice.
He hit 30 home runs while playing in Detroit, but he and the Yankees proved to be a perfect match. The short porch made him a prolific power threat, as he finished with the most home runs in Major League Baseball across the 2011-2012 seasons combined (84 HR, 10 more than the second-place slugger, Ryan Braun ). He did this all while playing centerfield.
2012 had two more homers, but 2011 was Granderson’s best season. His league ranks that year were as follows:
WAR (6.9): 7th
wRC+ (142): 15th
wOBA (.393): 12th
HR (41): 2nd
MVP Voting: 4th
Yankee Stadium’s hitter-friendly dimensions undoubtedly boosted Curtis Granderson’s performance, highlighting the importance of roster fit when signing and selecting players. In 2009, he saw his flyball percentage (FB%) near 50%, yet his home run-to-flyball (HR/FB) rate was only 12.6%. By 2011, his HR/FB rate had surged to 20.5%, despite pulling the ball only 1.3% more often.
During this career-defining season, Granderson excelled at hitting key pitches and posting career-best Fastball and Slider Runs Above Average numbers—marks he would never reach again. It was, in every sense, a phenomenal year, earning him a top five MVP finish.
Granderson’s Case
While 2011 was extraordinary, it’s understandable why Granderson may fall short of the Hall of Fame. If this represents the peak of his career, it doesn’t quite meet the high bar for induction. However, his overall achievements remain impressive. Granderson compiled 47.2 WAR (235th all-time) and hit 344 career home runs (102nd all-time), numbers worthy of a spot on the ballot.
Granderson’s influence extended far beyond baseball. Known for his dedication to community service, he focused on supporting inner-city children and promoting global outreach as an MLB ambassador. His efforts earned him widespread admiration, the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, and the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award four times.
Granderson’s legacy is one of excellence both on and off the field, cementing his place as one of the game’s great ambassadors.
Main Photo Credits: Gregory Fisher- USA Today Sports
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