The Official OddsSeeker 2022 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

In just six hours the official MLB Hall of Fame class of 2022 will be announced. Normally, this isn’t something that I would particularly count down the minutes until–but with the future of baseball still up in the air, I’ll take all the MLB action I could get.

This year’s ballot contains 30 players, 13 of which are making their HOF ballot debut. Some big names will be left off of next year’s ballot regardless of this year’s results, seeing as how Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, and Sammy Sosa are all on their last year of voting eligibility.

To make it into the Hall of Fame, you need to appear on 75% of the ballots cast. To remain in the Hall of Fame voting pool, you need to appear on at least 5% of ballots. Here is the complete list of players up for the hall this year:

• Curt Schilling, 10th year
• Barry Bonds, 10th year
• Roger Clemens, 10th year
• Sammy Sosa, 10th year
• Jeff Kent, 9th year
• Gary Sheffield, 8th year
• Billy Wagner, 7th year
• Manny Ramirez, 6th year
• Scott Rolen, 5th year
• Omar Vizquel, 5th year
• Andruw Jones, 5th year
• Todd Helton, 4th year
• Andy Pettitte, 4th year
• Bobby Abreu, 3rd year
• Mark Buehrle, 2nd year
• Torii Hunter, 2nd year
• Tim Hudson, 2nd year
• Alex Rodriguez, 1st year
• David Ortiz, 1st year
• Mark Teixeira, 1st year
• Jimmy Rollins, 1st year
• Carl Crawford, 1st year
• Jake Peavy, 1st year
• Justin Morneau, 1st year
• Prince Fielder, 1st year
• Joe Nathan, 1st year
• Tim Lincecum, 1st year
• Jonathan Papelbon, 1st year
• A.J. Pierzynski, 1st year
• Ryan Howard, 1st year

Last year’s vote inducted no players, meaning no one hit the 75% threshold. However, from the ballots that have been made public so far, it’s safe to assume at least ONE player will be inducted this year when all is said and done.

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SO, without further to do, here is my 2022 MLB Hall of Fame ballot.

1. 1B/DH David Ortiz

2408 G, 2472 H, 541 HR, 1768 RBI, .286/.380/.552, 141 OPS+

10x All-Star, 7x Silver Slugger, 3x World Series, WS MVP, ALCS MVP

I really feel like Big Papi is a no-brainer. As a Yankees fan, I’ve watched Big Papi more times than I truly would have liked to, but there’s no denying the sense of fear and dread that entered my soul every time he stepped up to the plate.

There are only 22 players with more RBIs than Papi, and only 16 with more home runs. Only 11 players have more doubles than Ortiz, which is incredible considering he probably weighs more than players ranked 11 and 10 combined (sorry Adrian Beltre and Honus Wagner). Ortiz has his name all over the MLB record books, so making him wait out his time on the Hall of Fame ballot would be a disservice.

Of course, Papi has a bit of steroid drama–but he is also the only suspected steroid user to be backed by an MLB commissioner. Ortiz only ‘tested positive’ on the first 2003 Mitchell report, which Commissioner Rob Manfred has since illegitimized. Since the MLB started regular and regulated testing in 2004, Ortiz NEVER tested positive.

Ortiz’s Hall of Fame entry is well deserved and should make for a hilarious entrance speech.

2. LF Barry Bonds

2986 G, 2935 H, 762 HR, 1996 RBI, 514 SB, .298/.444/.607, 182 OPS+

7x MVP, 14x All-Star, 8x Gold Glove, 12x Silver Slugger, 2x Batting Title

I obviously don’t have to convince you on the numbers–the 7 MVPs speak for themselves–but the elephant in the room is obvious: How can I elect a second Barry to the Hall of Fame (shout out Barry Larkin.)

Okay but really, I know the Barry Bonds plaque scares a lot of purists because of the steroids. But how can you tell the story of baseball without Bonds?? And just because we put Bonds in does NOT mean we have to put all the steroid users in. Bonds was the best of the best steroid users–he was so good at cheating, that he made other cheaters look like they weren’t cheating.

Bonds was also the most feared man to ever stand in the batter’s box–he has seven seasons in which he has more walks than hits, with each number above 100.

If you hate that one, then skip the next one.

3. SP Roger Clemens

354-184, 707 GS, 4916.2 IP, 3.12 ERA, 4672 K, 1.173 WHIP

1x MVP, 7x Cy Young, 2x Triple Crown, 11x All-Star, 2x World Series, 7x ERA Title

This one is extremely similar to the Bonds pick. Yes, Steroids. BUT, he’s the BEST steroids to ever do it.

Third overall in strikeouts.

Ninth overall in wins.

Most Cy Young awards of all time.

Just let him in.

4. SP Curt Schilling

216-146, 436 GS, 3261.0 IP, 3.46 IP, 3116 K, 1.137 WHIP

6x All-Star, 3x World Series, 1x WS MVP

This is one of those precedence picks. If Schilling fails to get in this year, he’ll be the only pitcher (unplagued by steroids) that has amassed over 3,000 strikeouts and NOT made it to the Hall of Fame.

Sure, he’s a bit of a jerk–or a lot of a jerk–but since when have we let off-field stuff affect a player's status in the Hall of Fame? Ty Cobb is one of the biggest jerks of all time and he’d be printed on the MLB dollar bill!

5. 1B Todd Helton

2247 G, 2519 H, 369 HR, 1406 RBI, .316/.414/.539, 133 OPS+

5x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove, 4x Silver Slugger, 1x Batting Title

No ballot is perfect, right?

The only thing that’s even remotely more feared than steroids in the Hall of Fame, is Colorado Rockies in the Hall of Fame. I’m hoping Larry Walker broke the seal, but the constant disrespect that is tossed towards Rockies sluggers is asinine. We’re going to punish Helton for being drafted by the team he was drafted by, and never leaving? So WHAT the air is a lot thinner in Colorado and the ball flies a bit more. Helton did everything he was supposed to do but will have nothing to sure for it because the committee exaggerates the effect of Coors Field.

Don’t you think that if it was THAT significant of an advantage the MLB would make them move their stadium?

I’ll be the first to admit–Helton’s slash lines are a lot better at home then they are on the road.

Home: .345/.441/.607

Road:.287/.386/.469

Different, right? But the road stats are still GREAT.

But before we go, let's play a game. I’m going to give you a few Home/Road splits without telling you who they are, and we’ll see how they compare to Helton’s.

Player #1:

Home: .320/.374/.546

Road: .277/.330/.459

Player #2:

Home: .305/.400/.565

Road: .267/.359/.538

Player #1: Jim Rice (HOF)

Player #2: David Ortiz (Soon to be HOF)