http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160107&content_id=161275098&oid=36019 01/07/2016 1:07 PM ET By A.J. Herrmann Mariano Rivera & Derek Jeter are just two of the Yankees who can expect to receive first-ballot Hall of Fame nomination when they become eligible.(AP) The New York Yankees organization is well-represented in Cooperstown already, but the list of potential Yankees headed to the Hall is about to grow over the next four years. Just two players, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza, received enough votes in the 2016 Hall of Fame Class to earn enshrinement, but the ballots will be full of worthy contenders next year and beyond. To date, there are 51 different players, managers, coaches and owners affiliated with the Yankees who have earned immortality in the Hall of Fame, and another 16 players will soon be eligible for consideration starting in 2017. Along with the names of those floating in between the minimum 5% barrier but below the 75% induction mark, The Baseball Writers Association of America released its list of future eligible players, many of which wore pinstripes. On the 2016 ballot, Tim Raines, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, Mike Mussina and Lee Smith all spent time with the Yankees, but were unable to reach the necessary 75% mark for induction. Here now, we take a look at all 16 of the Yankees nominees who will become eligible for induction between next year and the year 2020. The 2021 ballot has also been released, but no Yankees are due to become eligible in that particular year. Class of 2017 Candidates Jorge Posada, C - A beloved member of the Yankees "Core Four," Posada helped win five championships while earning five All-Star nominations and five Silver Slugger Awards in the process. Posada was on the receiving end of David Wells' 1998 perfect game, as well as 125 total games in the postseason. Ivan Rodriguez, C - No player embodied his given nickname quite like Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, who retired from baseball after 21 seasons in 2011. Rodriguez had a cup of coffee with the Yankees for 33 games in 2008, but was a perennial All-Star, appearing in the Midsummer Classic 14 times over a 16-year span from 1992 to 2007. Javier Vazquez, RHP - Owner of the 30th place on MLB's all-time career strikeouts list (2,536), Vazquez fanned at least 113 batters in each of his 14 years in the Majors. Vazquez spent two seasons in the Bronx, first in 2004 when he earned his first and only career All-Star nomination, and again in 2010. Class of 2018 Hideki Matsui, OF - Winner of the 2009 World Series MVP trophy, the man known as "Godzilla" became a Yankees fan favorite after spending seven seasons in the Bronx. From 2003 to 2009, Matsui slashed .292/.370/.482, and became the first Japanese-born World Series MVP after batting .615 with three homers and eight RBI in the Yankees' 2009 championship run. Johnny Damon, OF - After four productive seasons in Boston, Johnny Damon joined the Yankees in 2006 for four more years. Over that time, he averaged 19 homers and 74 RBI per season, retiring from the game with a lifetime .292 clip. Damon spent 18 years in the Majors playing for seven teams, earning two All-Star nominations in the process. Andruw Jones, OF - Starting pitchers walked out to the mound with huge smiles when Andruw Jones was patrolling center field. He became a five-time All-Star and one of the most athletic talents during his first 12 MLB seasons, spent all with the Braves. In 2005, Jones hit a staggering 51 home runs, and finished his MLB career with the Yankees in 2011 and 2012. Kerry Wood, RHP - Wood donned a Yankees uniform for 24 games in 2010, but was dominant in that stretch posting an ERA of 0.69 with 31 strikeouts in 26 innings. Over his entire career, the majority of which was spent with the Cubs, Wood owns a 3.67 ERA as he made the transition from starter to reliever after the 2006 season. Class of 2019 Mariano Rivera, RHP - Considered almost universally as baseball's greatest closer of all time, no pitcher in history converted as many saves as former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera's 652. A Yankee lifer, Rivera spent 19 seasons in the Majors and earned 13 All-Star appearances, five Top-5 Cy Young finishes, and owns the MLB record for most postseason saves (42) and lowest postseason ERA (0.70). Andy Pettitte, LHP - Another fellow member of the Core Four, Pettitte was one of the most battle-tested postseason pitchers in the history, winning more decisions in October than any other pitcher in baseball history, with 18. Pettitte also holds the MLB record for most postseason strikeouts (167), innings pitched (251 1/3) and starts (40). Lance Berkman, 1B/DH - Though he appeared in just 37 games for the Yankees, Berkman will land on the 2019 ballot after a 15-year MLB career. A six-time All-Star, Berkman hit 366 career home runs and surpassed the 30 home run mark and 100-RBI mark six different times. Kevin Youkilis, 1B/3B - Known primarily as the scrappy third baseman of the Boston Red Sox, Youkilis joined the Yankees in 2013 for a 28-game stretch after nine seasons in the Majors. "Youk" was a Gold Glover and three-time All-Star, and finished in the top-six of MVP voting in two seasons. Class of 2020 Derek Jeter, SS - A player who needs no introduction, Derek Jeter, "The Captain," was the central figure of the New York Yankees powerhouse that won five World Series titles and three in three years, from 1998 to 2000. Jeter owns countless franchise records and accolades, and might become the first player to earn unanimous approval for Hall of Fame induction when he becomes eligible on the 2020 ballot. Alfonso Soriano, 2B/LF - For seven seasons, including the first five of his career, Soriano was a dynamic offensive talent with the Yankees, leading the Majors in both hits (209) and runs (128) in the 2002 season, while stealing a league-high 41 bases. Soriano retired with 412 home runs and a career batting average of .270 over 16 MLB seasons. Jason Giambi, 1B/DH - One of baseball's premier sluggers, Jason Giambi spent seven seasons with the Yankees from 2002 to 2008, over which span he belted 209 of his 440 career home runs, putting him 41st on MLB's all-time list of home run hitters. Bobby Abreu, OF/DH - Abreu played the Yankees outfield for three years in the mid-2000's, in the middle of his eventual 18-year MLB career. Over that time, Abreu earned two All-Star nominations and is one of just 74 players in baseball history with at least 400 stolen bases for his career. Eric Chavez, 3B - After 13 seasons with the Oakland A's, Chavez signed with the Yankees for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In his second year in pinstripes, Chavez hit .281 over 113 games at the hot corner. He never made it to an All-Star game, but he did win six straight Gold Glove Awards from 2001 to 2006, receiving MVP votes in four of those years.
On the first ballot.................. Definite: Mariano & Jeter Maybe: Pettitte & Posada & A Jones No: the rest
The odds of a consenus or 100% vote for any player are against any player. but, if Jeter is not the 1st to get 100%; then I seriously doubt any ball player ever will garner such. Getting all the BBWA Monkies to push the same button, is not as easy as it seems, even with a shock and reward system of training those monkies... I think Jones is a long shot, alot of steroid speculation, semblances to A. Dawson's lifetime numbers. A great solid 10 year span, then dropped off drastically at age 30, playing then as if he were 45....? just saying.....? What about Pudge? I think He's a slam dunk, any findings of juicing I don't know about? I hope not, but then at one time I wished all the heroes of MLB weren't cheaters. "Say it isn't so Joe"...... Pettite and Posada, hard for me to make a non-biased call, same with Moose, but I can justify not voting Moose in alot easier than not letting both Jorge and Andy in. With questions always looming over Piazza, Griffey Jr., Bagwell, et al. Whose to say by 2019, will the BBWA will turn a blind eye to Juicing??? Or try to define a fine line, b/t those who the writers would make excuses for, I mean exceptions for; under what conditions....? Andy may be border line, and one can't look at his Post Season numbers only, otherwise Bernie Williams would of been in...? But, I can see Andy going either way, only if some grace/mercy is given to acknowledged juicers prior to 04. (Was that not when MLB enacted the Vit S Laws from the Mitchell report of a year prior? Speaking of 04, .... Fk, I don't ever want to hear of Shrek & the HOF. I'll not even respond to any Shrek Shit, that's pure Monkey Bullshit.... Damon is a firm NO also, as is Matsui, and all the others too..... fk Let Jim Edumds IN.....
btw- MO' s/b a slam dunk first ballot....!!! If not, the writers should have to undergo "shock treatment".....
Mo and Jete are locks. Godzilla makes it into the Japanese HoF. Posada....maybe someday, but lonshot.
