Former Blue Jay Fred McGriff elected to Hall of Fame; Bonds, Clemens left out again | CBC Sports

Moments after former Toronto Blue Jay Fred McGriff was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, nearly 20 years after his closing recreation, he received the query.

Asked if Barry Bonds belonged in Cooperstown, a smiling McGriff responded: “Honestly, right now, I’m going to just enjoy this evening.”

A Hall of Fame committee delivered its reply Sunday, passing over Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling whereas handing McGriff the most important honour of his spectacular massive league profession.

The lanky first baseman, nicknamed the “Crime Dog,” spent his first 5 seasons in Toronto, hitting 125 dwelling runs and 305 RBIs. McGriff led the American League with 36 dwelling runs in 1989, his fourth 12 months with the Blue Jays.

He hit .284 with 493 homers and 1,550 RBIs over 19 seasons with six main league groups. The five-time all-star helped Atlanta win the 1995 World Series.

McGriff received 169 votes (39.8 per cent) in his closing 12 months on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America poll in 2019. Now, he can be inducted into Cooperstown on July 23, together with anybody chosen within the writers’ vote, introduced Jan. 24.

“It’s all good. It’s been well worth the wait,” mentioned McGriff, who performed his final massive league recreation in 2004.

It was the primary time that Bonds, Clemens and Schilling had confronted a Hall committee since their tenth and closing appearances on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America poll. Bonds and Clemens have been accused of utilizing performance-enhancing medication, and help for Schilling dropped after he made hateful remarks towards Muslims, transgender individuals, reporters and others.

While the 59-year-old McGriff obtained unanimous help from the 16 members of the modern baseball period committee — comprised of Hall members, executives and writers — Schilling received seven votes, and Bonds and Clemens every obtained fewer than 4.

The make-up of the committee probably will change through the years, however the vote was one other indication that Bonds and Clemens would possibly by no means make it to the Hall.

This 12 months’s modern period panel included Greg Maddux, who performed with McGriff in Atlanta, together with Paul Beeston, who was an govt with Toronto when McGriff made his massive league debut with the Blue Jays in 1986.

Another former Atlanta participant, Chipper Jones, was anticipated to be a part of the committee, however he examined constructive for COVID-19 and was changed by Arizona Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall.

The modern period committee considers candidates whose careers have been primarily from 1980 on. A participant wants 75 per cent to be elected.

“It’s tough deciding on who to vote for and who not to vote for and so forth,” McGriff mentioned. “So it’s a great honour to be unanimously voted in.”

In addition to all his massive hits and memorable performs, one in all McGriff’s enduring legacies is his connection to a baseball expertise video from youth coach Tom Emanski. The slugger appeared in a business for the product that aired commonly in the course of the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s — sporting a blue Baseball World shirt and hat.

McGriff mentioned he has by no means seen the video.

Hall of Famers Jack Morris, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, Frank Thomas and Alan Trammell additionally served on this 12 months’s committee, which met in San Diego at baseball’s winter conferences.

Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Belle, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy rounded out the eight-man poll. Mattingly was subsequent closest to election, with eight votes of 12 required. Murphy had six.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling fell brief in January of their closing probabilities with the BBWAA. Bonds obtained 260 of 394 votes (66 per cent) and Schilling 231 (58.6 per cent).

Palmeiro was dropped from the BBWAA poll after receiving 25 votes (4.4 per cent) in his fourth look in 2014, falling under the 5 in 2012.

A seven-time NL MVP, Bonds set the profession dwelling run report with 762 and the season report with 73 in 2001. A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Clemens went 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts, third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Randy Johnson (4,875). Palmeiro had 3,020 hits and 568 homers.

Schilling fell 16 votes shy with 285 (71.1 per cent) on the 2021 BBWAA poll. The right-hander went 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA in 20 seasons, successful the World Series with Arizona in 2001 and Boston in 2004 and 2007.

Theo Epstein, who additionally served on the modern period committee, was the GM in Boston when the Red Sox acquired Schilling in a commerce with the Diamondbacks in November 2003.

Players on Major League Baseball’s ineligible record can’t be thought of, a rule that excludes Pete Rose.