Roberto Alomar robbed on Hall of Fame ballot

All I can say is … wow.

There I was anxiously anticipating Roberto Alomar’s name to be called as one of the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, but it never happened.

For whatever reason, the BBWAA decided it was Andre Dawson’s year and only Andre Dawson’s year to go into the hall. I have no ill will towards Dawson, but I do have some disdain over this decision directed towards the Baseball Writers Association of America.


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First of all, five ballots were left completely blank. For some inductees, that could have been the difference between making it in, and standing outside for yet another year. Nobody thinks that leaving your Hall of Fame ballot is “cute” – this isn’t voting for your high school class rep, this is the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jay Mariotti, I’m looking directly at you and your other four cohorts who thought this would “send a message”. 

Secondly, get over yourselves. If you think that leaving Alomar off your ballot was a way to “teach him a lesson” or to punish him for his mistakes, you are a sad, sad, person. Alomar already made up with John Hirschbeck, and in fact, Alomar now does charity work for a foundation set up in honour of  Hirschbeck’s son. So stop holding a grudge against Alomar because if John Hirschbeck can get over it, so can you.

I now see the irony in it all – 13 years ago, Roberto Alomar spit in the face of John Hirschbeck. Now the Baseball Writers Association of America has basically done the same and spit in the face of Alomar.

Frankly, Roberto Alomar should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer and it’s a shame that he’s even going to have to wait another year to see if he will make it in 2011.

Ian Hunter

Ian has been writing about the Toronto Blue Jays since 2007. He enjoyed the tail-end of the Roy Halladay era and vividly remembers the Alex Rodriguez "mine" incident. He'll also retell the story of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS to his kids for the next 20 years.

9 thoughts on “Roberto Alomar robbed on Hall of Fame ballot

  • January 6, 2010 at 9:59 pm
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    There's already a post about it over on Page 2, but anyone who left Alomar off to teach him a lesson would do good to take a look at every other ridiculously atrocious thing anyone already in the HOF did during their careers.

    Like Babe Ruth punching out an umpire.

    If Robbie doesn't get in next year I'm making a plaque for him and invading the hall.

  • January 7, 2010 at 12:04 am
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    Thanks Matty, I read through that briefly earlier today. Ruth punched out an umpire? I guess that would be the equivalent of Alomar spitting in an umpire's face.

    Frankly, Alomar not being a first-ballot Hall of Famer is a disgrace. Yes, he will eventually make it in, but what message does it send when even a player of his caliber can't make it in on the first try?

  • January 7, 2010 at 1:36 am
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    Ian, it's funny how every year I grow more distrustful of the whole thing, but then I get just as angry when it doesn't go the way I want it to.
    It sucks, but some petty idiots got their little show out of what happened today — just like Eck got his little show before Robbie took him deep.

  • January 7, 2010 at 4:06 am
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    I guess I'm the only one encouraged by this year's vote. For the first time, it looks like Blyleven's going in.

    And Alomar's as good as in too. So he wasn't a first-ballot electee….there's no such thing anyways….

    Dawson's inclusion versus Raines' exclusion is fairly puzzling though. Raines has a tough fight ahead.

  • January 7, 2010 at 4:41 am
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    I don't know how much month the Cardinals have left to sign Albert Pujols, you'd have to think the Cards wouldn't pay this much for Holliday if it meant they wouldn't have enough money for Pujols.

  • January 7, 2010 at 5:19 am
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    QJays, I also am starting to lose faith in the process. It sucks that these decisions are left in the hands of writers who obviously have a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda against certain players.

    It's like the jury on the show Survivor – jury members get pissed that the people voted them out, but ultimately they should vote for the people who played the best game.

    Anon, Byleven should get in next year … then again, people thought Alomar should get in this year, so who knows.

  • January 7, 2010 at 12:43 pm
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    Agreed with Anon above – I think Raines is actually the biggest injustice in all this. Aside from Alomar, probably the most obvious HoFer in the group.

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