Worst Hall of Fame Ballot Ever?

Well, I certainly think so (referencing the headline). Let’s take a look at the uninspiring 2026 Hall of Fame ballot.

Ryan Braun is probably the best of the newcomers, and he has PED stink all over him. After him, we get the likes of Cole Hamels, Edwin Encarnacion, Hunter Pence and Matt Kemp. Oh, and our old pal Daniel Murphy. Certainly good players, but none worthy of Cooperstown. So no first-timers are getting in, not this year or ever.

As far as the holdovers, there’s cheater Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones, whose career fell off a cliff after age 30. There is the steroids crew of Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, who are never getting in. And then there are the guys who the analytics crowd is pushing — Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins. Somehow they are gaining votes despite no one ever thinking they were Hall of Famers throughout their career. Utley in particular looks like he is on his way to enshrinement. That will be a sad day (yes, Mets fans still hate him).

So whom did I vote for in the IBWAA election? Only David Wright and Francisco Rodriguez. Wright is obviously a sentimental choice, as injuries derailed his train to Cooperstown. But hey, if Utley is getting serious consideration, then Wright deserves it, too.

Every year I consider not voting for Rodriguez, but his stats are similar to other relievers in the Hall, so I keep checking his box.

I think what is going on with all of these marginal players getting votes is that writers are blurring the line between Hall of Fame talent and Hall of Fame career. Certainly Wright had the talent, but he did not amass the career. Ditto for Utley, Rollins and the like.

So what’s my prediction for the official BBWAA vote? — Beltran and Jones get the necessary 75%. What a crummy ceremony this will be in July — these two and the equally questionable Jeff Kent. I miss the days when only the best of the best got into Cooperstown.