Based on my rankings of players I will address my nominees for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame. The primary criterion that used here is to compare the rankings of the candidates to the Hall of Famers at their respective positions. I feel that players that rank among the top half of the Hall of Fame players at their position are definite Hall of Famers. Players that are within one standard deviation of the average Hall of Famer at their position rank are not really different from the average Hall of Famer at their position. I will refer to these candidates as being within the Hall of Fame group and should probably be inducted.

There are currently 16 first basemen inducted in the baseball Hall in Fame. Eddie Murray ranks in the upper half among Hall of Fame first baseman and should be inducted on his first ballot. Dick Allen, Keith Hernandez and Don Mattingly rank within the Hall of Fame group. Mark McGwire should move up into the Hall of Fame group with a few more productive seasons.

The recent inclusion of Tony Perez is interesting because I had him ranked behind Hernandez, Steve Garvey and even Cecil Cooper, none of whom got strong consideration in recent voting.

There are 14 second basemen inducted in the Hall of Fame. Rhyne Sandberg ranks among the upper half of the second base Hall of Famers and should be inducted on his first ballot. Biddy McPhee, Roberto Alomar and Craig Biggio rank within the Hall of Fame group and the later two active players could move into the upper half. Lou Whitaker is on the bubble.

There are just 9 third basemen inducted into the Hall of Fame. Paul Molitor, Wade Boggs, Ron Santo and Ken Boyer rank among the top half of Hall of Fame third basemen and should be inducted. Lave Cross, Darrell Evans, Buddy Bell, Craig Nettles and two active players, Gary Gaetti and Matt Williams are within the Hall of Fame group and on the bubble. If considered with third basemen Pete Rose and Dick Allen rank among the top half of Hall of Fame third basemen.

There are 19 shortstops inducted in the Hall of Fame. Cal Ripken Jr and Bill Dahlen rank in the upper half of Hall of Fame shortstops and should be inducted. Barry Larkin , Jack Glasscock, Ozzie Smith and Vern Stephens, and Herman Long rank within the Hall of Fame group. Alan Trammell is on the bubble. Tony Fernandez should move up with a few more productive years.

With the recent election of Calrton Fisk, there are currently 12 catchers inducted in the Hall of Fame. No current candidate ranks among the top 50% of the Hall of Fame catchers. However, Joe Torre, Gary Carter, Ted Simmons, and Lance Parrish rank within the Hall of Fame group of catchers. Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez are catchers in their primes that already rank among the elite catchers of all time.

There are 54 outfielders in the baseball Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds, Tony Gwynn, Ricky Henderson, Andre Dawson, Ken Griffey Jr., Dave Winfield, Dave Parker and Jim Rice rank in the top half of Hall of Fame outfielders. Pete Rose, Kirby Puckett, Dale Murphy, Dwight Evans, Reggie Smith and Sherry MaGee rank within the Hall of Fame group and are on the bubble. Albert Belle and Tim Raines are active players that rank within the Hall of Fame group and may move up.

There are 59 pitchers inducted in the Hall of Fame. There are 5 pitchers rank among the upper half of the Hall of Fame, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Jim McCormick, Eddie Cicotte, and Tony Mullane. Each should be in the Hall of Fame. Bert Blyleven, Bob Caruthers, Tommy Bond, Carl Mays, Tommy John, Sam Leever, Billy Pierce, Larry Corcoran, Hippo Vaughn, Joe Wood, Louis Tiant and Ron Guidry rank within the Hall of Fame group and on the bubble. A few more productive seasons from Randy Johnson, David Cone, Pedro Martinez, Orel Hershiser and Bret Saberhagen should move them among the upper–half of the Hall of Fame pitchers.

Among the 59 pitchers in the Hall of Fame, only two are relief pitchers. Dennis Eckersley ranks #2 among relievers and should be inducted. Relief pitchers on the bubble include Rich Gossage, Bruce Sutter and John Franco.

1. Jim McCormick
2. Reggie Smith
3. Dick Allen
4. Sherry MaGee
5. Biddy McPhee
6. Ron Santo
7. Ken Boyer
8. Eddie Ciccotte
9. Tony Mullane
10. Bob Caruthers

1. Dave Winflield
2. Dave Parker
3. Jim Rice
4. Kirby Puckett
5. Dale Murphy
6. Dwight Evans
7. Keith Hernandez
8. Don Mattingly
9. Bert Blyleven
10. Lou Whitaker

1. Andre Dawson
2. Dave Winflield – if not elected in 2001
3. Dave Parker – if eligible
4. Jim Rice – if eligible
5. Rhyne Sandberg – if 2002
6. Pete Rose – if eligible
7. Kirby Puckett
8. Dale Murphy – if eligible
9. Dwight Evans – if eligible
10. Keith Hernandez – if eligible
11. Don Mattingly – if eligible
12. Bert Blyleven – if eligible
13. Ozzie Smith
14. Alan Trammell

1. Andre Dawson – if eligible
2. Dave Winflield – if eligible
3. Eddie Murray
4. Dave Parker – if eligible
5. Jim Rice – if eligible
6. Rhyne Sandberg – if eligible
7. Pete Rose – if eligible
8. Kirby Puckett – if eligible
9. Dale Murphy – if eligible
10. Dwight Evans – if eligible
11. Bert Blyleven – if eligible
12. Ozzie Smith – if eligible

1. Andre Dawson - if eligible
2. Dave Winflield – if eligible
3. Eddie Murray –if eligible
4. Dave Parker – if eligible
5. Jim Rice – if eligible
6. Rhyne Sandberg – if eligible
7. Paul Molitor
8. Pete Rose – if eligible
9. Kirby Puckett – if eligible
10. Dennis Eckersley
11. Dale Murphy – if eligible
12. Dwight Evans – if eligible
13. Bert Blyleven – if eligible

1. Andre Dawson – if eligible
2. Dave Winflield – if eligible
3. Eddie Murray –if eligible
4. Dave Parker – if eligible
5. Jim Rice – if eligible
6. Rhyne Sandberg – if eligible
7. Paul Molitor – if eligible
8. Pete Rose – if eligible
9. Kirby Puckett – if eligible
10. Dennis Eckersley
11. Dale Murphy – if eligible
12. Dwight Evans – if eligible
13. Wade Boggs – if eligible
14. Bert Blyleven – if eligible

1. Barry Bonds
2. Tony Gwynn
3. Rickey Henderson
4. Ken Griffey Jr.
5. Cal Ripken Jr.
6. Roger Clemens
7. Greg Maddux
8. Barry Larkin
9. Randy Johnson
10. Mark McGwire
11. Roberto Alomar
12. Craig Biggio
13. Mike Piazza
14. Ivan Rodriguez
15. Albert Belle
16. David Cone
17. Gary Gaetti
18. Matt Williams
19. Pedro Martinez
20. Orel Hershiser
21. Bret Saberhagen
22. Tim Raines
23. John Franco
24. Jose Canseco
25. Fred McGriff