2011 MLB Hall of Fame Induction: Greg Maddux and the Next 25 Stars Voted In

There is no greater honor in baseball than being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Imagine for a moment, dedicating your entire life to the game of baseball and, when your body simply can't maintain the strain of the game's grueling grind, your name is enshrined among the all-time greats.

On Sunday afternoon, three of those all-time greats will be bestowed with exactly that honor, as Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar and Pat Gillick (as well as a number of other excellent "baseball guys") will have their plaques hung in the halls of Cooperstown.

So, with our attention being pulled towards the Hall this weekend, that got me to thinking—which of the all-time greats are next in line for the honor? Looking over the ballot, most of the popular names have all but dissipated, and a new breed of player will be introduced to the 2012 ballot. 

In the following slide show, I'll be breaking down not only next year's ballot, but ballots well into the future, to see which of the eligible players will be welcomed into the halls of Cooperstown over the coming years.

*Any player with significant ties to steroids/performance enhancing drugs did not qualify for the list.

Barry Larkin

Eligible for Ballot: Present

Now that Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar are there waiting for him and not stealing votes from him off of the ballot, Barry Larkin's induction into the Hall of Fame is just a matter of time. In 2011, the MLB Network analyst climbed closer than ever towards induction, collecting 62.1 percent of the vote, but falling shy of the necessary 75 percent for induction.

The career Cincinnati Reds shortstop became eligible for induction on the 2010 ballot, after he posted a slash line of .295/.371/.444 over 19 seasons. Larkin established nearly a decade of dominance at the shortstop position, both offensively and defensively, as the 12-time All-Star also boasts nine Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves for his trophy case.

Jeff Bagwell

Eligible for Ballot: Present

Jeff Bagwell is a player I find interesting, in terms of selection for induction into the Hall of Fame. Don't get me wrong—he has great career numbers—but I wonder if he would have been in the same position of making the Hall as he is now, if great hitters in the mold of Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, etc. were not caught up in the whole "steroid era."

Regardless, "Bag Pipes" was one of the greatest Houston Astros to ever suit up, and if he is inducted as easily as we believe, it will be well deserving. Over 15 seasons, the first baseman posted a slash line of .297/.408/.540, with 449 home runs. Bagwell's greatest career accomplishment was winning the MVP award in 1994, but is also a former Rookie of the Year, four-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger and former Gold Glove winner.

Jack Morris

Eligible for Ballot: Present

I'm kind of on the fence about whether or not Jack Morris is finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, but for a number of reasons, headlined by a very weak incoming class of eligible players, I think he does, and with relative ease.

Morris has been eligible for candidacy since 2000, and it seems like he gets closer, yet further away, with each passing year. In 2011, he received 53.5 percent of the vote, his highest level of support so far, and in my personal opinion, it seems like voters are willing to give him the nod this year, or at least, in the near future.

The right hander spent his career with the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians, and was known for his intense, animal-like mound persona. He is the owner of a career record of 254-186, and an ERA of 3.90 (105 ERA+). He also racked up 2,478 strikeouts for his career, and is a five-time All-Star.

Craig Biggio

Eligible for Ballot: 2013

I've seen a lot of people questioning whether or not Craig Biggio is a future Hall of Famer, and I'm kind of confused by the banter, because the answer is relatively simple for me. Allow me to pose a question: In the history of the Hall of Fame, how many players with 3,000 or more hits are not in Cooperstown? The answer?

Four.

One of those players is obviously Biggio, who will not be eligible for candidacy until 2013, and a second is Derek Jeter, who is still active. A third player is Rafael Palmeiro, who has numbers worthy of the Hall of Fame, but may never be welcomed into its halls because of his involvement with performance enhancing drugs, and the fourth player is the biggest snub of all time—Pete Rose—who is, of course, banned from baseball, and not allowed into the Hall.

Every single other player to have reached 3,000 hits is in the Hall of Fame (Jeter will be there as well), and though Biggio is not the biggest house hold name, he is certainly deserving. Arguably the greatest player in the history of the Houston Astros, Biggio owns a career line of .281/.363/.433, with his biggest achievement being his hit total of 3,060.

The former second baseman is also a seven-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and five-time Silver Slugger. There is no doubt in my mind that Biggio is a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Curt Schilling

Eligible for Ballot: 2013

Is Curt Schilling a Hall of Fame-caliber player? Looking over his numbers, they are good, but are they great? He has all the makings of a great debate, but let's not forget those intangibles that every voter loves (and fans of statistics hate). Schilling is a pitcher who helped not one, but two different teams to a World Series Championship and, with three rings total, that may just be enough to get him in.

In 20 seasons spent with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox, Schilling holds a career record of 216-146, with an ERA of 3.46 (128 ERA+). A strike-out machine, we know that Schilling was a great pitcher, but is he worthy for the Hall of Fame? I believe so.

Let the debate begin.

Mike Piazza

Eligible for Ballot: 2013

Mike Piazza is widely regarded as the best hitting catcher of the last couple of decades, and if he isn't the greatest hitting catcher of all time, well, he sure is close. After taking one of the most unlikely paths to the big league of all time, Piazza spent parts of 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics.

As an offensive catcher, Piazza was a valuable asset, and he posted a career slash line of .308/.377/.545, with 427 career home runs. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1993, he was named to the All-Star team 12 times, and won 10 Silver Slugger awards for his work at the plate.

Piazza should have no problem getting into the Hall of Fame.

Greg Maddux

Eligible for Ballot: 2014

After dominating the National League for 23 seasons, Greg Maddux is a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Fame player if there ever was one. The right hander retired in 2008, and will be eligible for the ballot for the first time in 2014, when there is no doubt in my mind that he will be enshrined.

"The Professor" spent most of his career split between the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs, but also spent time out west with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Over those 23 seasons, he won an incredible 355 games, including a ridiculous 20 seasons with double digits in the win column, and has a career ERA of 3.16 (132 ERA+).

With Maddux, it's not a question of "will he," but "when?"

Jeff Kent

Eligible for Ballot: 2014

Jeff Kent was more than just one of the better offensive players of the last couple of decades. He was one of the greatest offensive second basemen to play the game, and a great player at a historically thin position usually has no problem making the Hall of Fame.

Kent spent parts of 17 seasons with a number of clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-handed hitter posted a slash line of .290/.356/.500 for his career, including 377 home runs.

Kent is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger award winner and won the National League's MVP award in 2000.

Mike Mussina

Eligible for Ballot: 2014

Mike Mussina is another guy I'm sort of torn over when it comes to the likelihood of making it into the Hall of Fame. Much like Curt Schilling, I get the feeling that certain intangibles will help boost his career numbers even further among voters, and in the long run (or maybe a short run), he gets in. Spending the majority of your career in a dominant era of the New York Yankees doesn't hurt.

"Moose" was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles before bolting for the Bronx 10 years later. In 18 seasons overall, Mussina posted a record of 270-153, with an ERA of 3.68 (123 ERA+). From 1992-2008, he rattled off a most impressive streak of 17 straight seasons with double digits in the win column, with his rookie campaign in 1991 being the only year with fewer.

Moose is a five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner and, in all honesty, I think he's an easier case for the Hall than Schilling.

Frank Thomas

Eligible for Ballot: 2014

After Ken Griffey Jr., I think that Frank Thomas is the next position player, and maybe the only other position player, who is a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Fame player. He spent all but the last few years of a 19-year career with the Chicago White Sox, logging some time as a designated hitter for Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays as well.

"The Big Hurt" terrorized American League pitching for years, culminating in back-to-back MVP awards in 1993-94, as well as several other top-five finishes. He retired with a career slash line of .301/.419/.555, with 521 home runs.

Along with his pair of MVP awards, Thomas was also recognized as an All-Star five times, and won four Silver Slugger awards.

Tom Glavine

Eligible for Ballot: 2014

Though the team's success should speak for itself throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the fact that Tom Glavine is just one of a few names to appear both on that Atlanta Braves staff and on this list is certainly telling. Slotted in just behind Greg Maddux, Glavine was the team's top lefty and, as his career numbers show, was practically un-hittable during his prime.

During 22 seasons spent with the Braves and New York Mets, Glavine assembled a career record of 305-203, with an ERA of 3.54 (118 ERA+). He won 20 games or more five times, and his trophy case is home to two National League Cy Young awards. Glavine's greatest accomplishment, however, may have been helping the Braves to a World Series victory in 1995, when he was named the World Series MVP.

Randy Johnson

Eligible for Ballot: 2015

With the way that Randy Johnson terrorized Major League hitters during his day, I'm sure that I wasn't the only person who knew that one day his mullet-like figure would be on a plaque in Cooperstown, and with his 300th win in 2009, he all but sealed the deal.

The "Big Unit" spent his career with a number of teams, including the Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, and he was very good at just about every stop. The tall left hander is the owner of a 303-166 career record, struck out 4,875 batters and owns an ERA of 3.29 (136 ERA+).

The only question is which team is on the cap of his plaque, and I'm betting those four Cy Young awards and World Series victory with the D'backs are a very telling indicator.

Gary Sheffield

Eligible for Ballot: 2015

If there is a name on this list that is going to surprise people, I'm guessing this is it. As many times as I look at the career statistics of Gary Sheffield, I still find it hard to believe that he was that good. He is the classic case of a guy who seemed to fit in nowhere, but seemed to have some amount of success everywhere. I'm not sure that he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but his numbers may dictate otherwise.

Sheffield spent his career with a whopping eight teams—a lot for a player who is expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He split parts of 22 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets.

During that span of time, he was selected to the All-Star Game nine times, and posted a career slash line of .292/.393/.514, with 509 home runs. He won the World Series with the Marlins in 1997, and his trophy case is also home to five Silver Slugger awards.

John Smoltz

Eligible for Ballot: 2015

The obvious Hall of Fame comparable for John Smoltz, would be Dennis Eckersley. Both guys were very good starters and completely dominant closers, with Smoltz winning more games as a starter, and Eckersley saving more games as a closer. While some consider him an interesting case, I think that Smoltz to the Hall is a no-brainer. He was dominant both as a starter and reliever, and an integral part of that Atlanta Braves' dynasty of the 1990s.

As a starting pitcher, Smoltz posted a career record of 209-141 with an ERA of 3.40. He was even more dominant as a closer, finishing 204 games for his career, converting 154 saves and finishing with an ERA of just 2.41.

An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz is one of the only men in the history of the game to win the Cy Young as a starting pitcher (1996) and the Rolaids Relief Man award for the game's top reliever (2002.) His World Series ring, captured with the Braves in 1995, may be the icing on the cake for voters.

Pedro Martinez

Eligible for Ballot: 2015

Long before I had to write about him joining the rotation of the Philadelphia Phillies for the stretch run in 2009, I found Pedro Martinez infinitely baffling. Even after he has retired from Major League Baseball (or so we think), he still finds ways to plant the seeds of doubt in my mind.

When you first think about Martinez and the Hall of Fame, the first thing that pops into your head is: first-ballot Hall of Famer. So with that background, I basically had this slide written in my head before I got here, and now, looking at his numbers, I'm not positive that voters will have such an easy time voting the longtime Boston Red Sox in.

His attitude issues aside (including the whole Don Zimmer incident), Martinez falls way short of one statistical barometer that has been used to measure a starting pitcher's capacity for the Hall of Fame since day one—the 300-win plateau.

Now, I'm not saying that wins should ever be used to completely judge a pitcher's caliber, but let's face it—they are. Voters took 15 years to select Bert Blyleven, and even he had close to 300 wins (289). Martinez, of course, is a much different pitcher. Taking a look at the complete package, however, there is some doubt in my mind as to whether or not he makes it in on the first ballot.

After 18 fine seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Red Sox, New York Mets and Phillies, Martinez owns a career record of 219-100. In the long run, I think that the win differential and other superb statistics (like his 2.93 career ERA and 154 ERA-plus, for instance), help this right hander into Cooperstown.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Eligible for Ballot: 2016

To many people, Ken Griffey Jr. is the greatest overall hitter of the last two decades, and once you remove names like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, among others, he is certainly the cleanest power threat to be mentioned for Hall of Fame candidacy. Once Barry Larkin and Jeff Bagwell are inducted, he is the easiest position player to suggest, and should have no problem getting in on the first ballot.

"Junior" spent his career with the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, and even after practically destroying his knee with Cincinnati, continued to be an above average hitter. He is the owner of a career slash line of .284/.370/.538, with 630 home runs.

He led the league in home runs four times, and that honor only scrapes the tip of the iceberg. Griffey is a 13-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove award winner, seven-time Silver Slugger award winner, the AL MVP in 1997 and a three-time champion of the Home Run Derby.

Cooperstown, make way.

Trevor Hoffman

Eligible for Ballot: 2016

For whatever reason, voters have left a number of good closers hanging when it comes to Hall of Fame induction; something that I'll probably never understand. So normally, when a closer is up for election, there is a long, drawn out debate about whether or not he belongs. Trevor Hoffman is the exception, however. There is no debate. He is arguably the greatest closer of all time.

A converted infielder, few scouts believed Hoffman had what it takes to get hitters out at the Major League level with a standard fastball/change-up repertoire. Close to 30 years later and he's a no-brainer for induction into the Hall of Fame.

Hoffman spent the majority of his career with the San Diego Padres, but also made appearances for the Florida Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers. Through his most dominant years, when "Hell's Bells" blared throughout the ballpark, the game was over. Hoffman finished 856 games, converting 601 saves, the most of all time (at least, until Mariano Rivera catches him).

Aside from being the all-time leader in saves, Hoffman was also named to the All-Star game seven times, and twice was named the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.

Mariano Rivera

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Closers have had a historically rough time getting into the Hall of Fame, but Mariano Rivera is one of a kind. By the time he's finished with an amazing career and hangs up his spikes, Rivera will be the all-time leader in saves and a no-brainer for the voters.

"Mo'" has spent his entire career with the New York Yankees, and that won't change. Already having finished the most games in the history of baseball, Rivera has already converted 583 saves. He is the owner of a minuscule career ERA of 2.21, and his 206 ERA-plus is the greatest of all time.

As far as accolades go, Mo has done it all. He is a 12-time All-Star, five-time World Series Champion, and has won every award for a reliever you can think of. Truly, one of the all-time greats.

Ivan Rodriguez

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Throughout the history of the game, there have been very few catchers better than Ivan Rodriguez, and none more durable. As he suited up for his 2,227th game behind the plate, "Pudge" passed Carlton Fisk for most games ever caught and, since he is also widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of all time, you know they were all quality games.

Rodriguez has spent parts of his 21 Major League seasons with the Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, posting a career slash line of .297/.333/.464, with 311 career home runs. He currently sits at 2,842 hits and, if he could reach 3,000 with a bit of luck and longevity, he would be a no-brainer for the Hall of Fame.

Pudge was named the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1999, after he posted an OPS of .914 from behind the plate. He was named to the All-Star game 14 times, won 13 Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers and a World Series with the Marlins in 2003.

Vladimir Guerrero

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Recently, I had an opportunity to speak with former American League MVP Fred Lynn, who practically gushed about Vladimir Guerrero as one of his all-time favorite outfielders. At the end of his career, we now think of Guerrero as the designated hitter for the last place Baltimore Orioles, but how quickly we forget that once upon a time, "Vlad" was one of the best players in the game.

With a cannon for a right arm, Guerrero was terrifying not only at the plate, but also in right field. He had one of the strongest arms of all time and, had his knees held up, he may still be out there throwing runners out today. At the plate, he is the owner of a career slash line of .318/.380/.556, with 443 home runs.

With the then-Anaheim Angels in 2006, he captured the American League MVP award, and outside of the Orioles, has finished within the top 20 in MVP voting with each team he has played for, including the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers. A nine-time All-Star and eight-time Silver Slugger, Guerrero to the Hall of Fame is an easy decision.

Chipper Jones

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Chipper Jones is becoming, arguably, the greatest switch-hitter of all time, and while Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack in that regard, in the long run, it's probably an honor bestowed upon the career long Atlanta Brave. With rumors swirling more than once about retirement in the not so distant future, as soon as Jones hangs up his spikes, the countdown on his Hall of Fame clock will begin.

An integral part of the Braves throughout the 1990s, Jones' consistency from both sides of the plate propelled the NL East contenders to 10 straight divisional titles from 1995-2005. Jones is the owner of a career slash line of .304/.403/.532, with 444 home runs.

Now, in his 18th season with the Braves, Jones won the MVP award for his work in 1999, has been named to the All-Star game seven times, is a two-time Silver Slugger, the 2008 batting champion and won a World Series with the Braves in 1995.

In short, he's done it all.

Roy Halladay

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Over the winter, I questioned whether or not Roy Halladay was a future candidate for the Hall of Fame. After reading everyone's comments, the answer was an unequivocal, "yes," assuming that he keeps up his machine-like numbers.

After years of dominating the American League East with the Toronto Blue Jays, Roy Halladay joined the Philadelphia Phillies via trade, and began making National League hitters look foolish. To date in his career, "Doc" has posted a career record of 180-90, with an ERA of 3.28 (137 ERA+). In an ERA where bullpens play a large role in a team's success, Halladay has been a one-man army, logging 64 complete games.

Through 14 seasons, Halladay has already won two Cy Young awards, one in each league, and tossed two no-hitters, one of which was a perfect game. He is also an eight-time All-Star, and one would imagine that if he could catch a World Series title, adding him into the ranks of Cooperstown would be simple.

Albert Pujols

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Man or machine? In an off year, Albert Pujols hits better than .300 and slugs 40 home runs, so as soon as he's done dominating the pitching-rich era of baseball he's playing in, he'll be enshrined in Cooperstown as one of the greatest hitters to play the game, right up there among the greatest St. Louis Cardinals' of all time with Stan Musial.

Set to become one of the best free agents to ever hit the open market, Pujols is currently in his 11th season with the Redbirds. To date, he's posted a slash line of .329/.422/.619, and has hit 430 home runs.

In just 11 seasons, he's won more awards than you can imagine. Some teams go decades before filling a trophy case that looks like Pujols'. He is a three-time National League MVP, nine-time All-Star, two-time Hank Aaron Award winner, six-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glove winner, the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, has one batting title, was named the 2004 NLCS MVP and won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2006.

Enough said.

Jim Thome

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

Jim Thome is one of the most likable characters in the sport of baseball, but with a bat in his hand, he's also one of the most feared. Throughout the 1990s and well into today, the slugging first baseman/designated hitter has instilled fear in the hearts of pitchers and joy to the fans, with legendary home runs and monstrous power.

With 21 seasons already under his belt, Thome has donned uniforms for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins, bringing his power along with him everywhere he went. He's posted a career slash line of .277/.403/.557, with 596 home runs.

Along with a number of awards that represent the game's "good guys," Thome has been named to the All-Star game five times, won a Silver Slugger, led the league in home runs, and is a member of the 500-home run club. As we speak, only seven men have more home runs than he in the history of the game and, most importantly, he's done it without steroids.

On a personal note, Thome's signing with the Phillies' in 2003 helped to bring respectability back to the Phillies franchise. As one of the game's all-time greats both on and off the field, he is an easy choice for the Hall of Fame if there ever was one.

Derek Jeter

Eligible for Ballot: Not Yet Determined

The New York Yankees are such a storied franchise, that any time you think about their all-time greats, you are synonymously thinking about the all-time greats in the sport of baseball, and that is saying a lot. Few names, however, are tied into the Yanks' without separation. Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle are all nearly unrecognizable when not wearing pinstripes. So, when you have all of those things going for you, and you're called "The Captain," you know you're one of the best.

That's exactly the case for Derek Jeter who, with his 3,000th hit, all but sealed his Hall of Fame resume. With 17 seasons as a Yankee under his belt, Jeter is the Yankees. He has posted a career slash line of .312/.383/.449, with 237 home runs, and currently sits at 3,012 hits and is climbing.

The awards are staggering, highlighted by five World Series titles. Jeter has been elected to the All-Star game 12 times, won five Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, an All Star Game MVP, a World Series MVP and two Hank Aaron awards. In my opinion, the most staggering feat is that he is the only Yankee in the history of that franchise with more than 3,000 hits. Incredible.

A Note on Players Tied into Steroids

For a long while, I teetered back and forth as to whether or not to include players with notable steroid convictions on this list, and now that you've reached the last slide, you already know that I did not. The reason for this is simple: I'm not sure if they'll ever get into the Hall of Fame.

Some players with notable steroid convictions were just purely talented. For example, had Barry Bonds not injected himself and gotten greedy, he still would have been one of the better "five tool" outfielders to play the game, and the Hall of Fame would not have been out of the question.

Other guys, like Mark McGwire (pictured), made a name for themselves as legitimate power threats, but the over-exaggerated power numbers that came as a result of steroid usage have been all but thrown out the window by voters.

I think that voters made if painfully obvious last year, when Rafael Palmeiro, who has Hall of Fame-caliber numbers, received just 11 percent of the vote—players whose careers were drastically changed by steroids would not be getting into the Hall of Fame any time soon.

So for that reason, I excluded a lot of those guys who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, unsure of whether or not they'll ever be elected into the Hall of Fame. The most notable of those players are Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro,  Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens.

Of that group, I think that Ramirez is the only one likely to be inducted, and even then, it could be a long shot.