With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Lee Smith

Lee Smith
The tall closer spent 18 seasons in Major League Baseball with eight different teams. He debuted in 1980 with the Chicago Cubs and played his final Major League game in 1997 with the Montreal Expos. This is his ninth year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Lee Smith was one of the first dominant closers in Major League Baseball. He was one of the first pitchers to spend his entire career closing out ball games and led the league four different times in saves. He would make seven All Star appearances and finished in the top ten of the Cy Young voting four times. He saved 478 games in his career and averaged almost a strikeout per inning over his 18 years.

Why He Should Not Get In
Writers are still new to the idea of closers being worthy of Hall Of Fame recognition. As they warm to the idea, however, there is very little reason to exclude Lee Smith.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Larry Walker

Larry Walker
Walker spent 17 years as an outfielder for three different franchises. His debut came in 1989 for the Montreal Expos and retired as a St. Louis Cardinal in 2005. This is his second year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Walker was known as a guy that could produce runs batted in and he did so to the tune of 1,311 in his career. He won three batting titles in his career and has a career average of .313. He has five All Star Games to his credit, three silver sluggers, the 1997 National League Most Valuable Player award, and seven Gold Glove Awards. He posted 383 home runs and 230 stolen bases as well as 2,160 hits and 471 doubles.

Why He Should Not Get In
Walker has a lot of really good numbers but not one outstanding one save his batting average. Ten years with the Colorado Rockies pre-humidor will have many writers question some of his career offensive numbers. One counting stat above and beyond the norm and he would be shoe-in.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Eric Young

Eric Young
Young’s fifteen year career found him in seven different uniforms. He debuted in 1992 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and retired as a member of the Texas Rangers in 2006. This is his first year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Young had an All Star Appearance and a Silver Slugger award in the same year in 1996. He also led the league in stolen bases that year. His career 465 stolen bases are respectable.

Why He Should Not Get In
Beyond the steals, his numbers are mediocre. He was never known for his glove, did not rack up a high number of hits or doubles and spent a solid but unremarkable fifteen years in the league.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Tony Womack

Tony Womack
Womack spent thirteen season playing primarily shortstop for seven franchises. He debuted in 1993 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and retired as a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2006. This is his first year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Womack was an All Star during his rookie campaign in 1997 and led the league in stolen bases three consecutive seasons.

Why He Should Not Get In
While Womack found himself in the right place at the right time a few times in his career, he was a bit player for most of those franchises. His numbers are low, even his 363 stolen bases are underwhelming for a speedy player.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Ruben Sierra

Ruben Sierra
Twenty years spread over nine teams, Sierra’s career started in 1986 as a member of the Texas Rangers. It would come to a close in 2006 in Minnesota. This is Sierra’s first time on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Sierra was a journeyman that made four All Star appearances and won a silver slugger award. As much as fellow hopeful Edgar Martinez represents Designated Hitters, Sierra can join him in that argument having spent a considerable amount of time as one himself. He has 306 home runs, 1322 runs batted in and 2,152 hits.

Why He Should Not Get In
His counting numbers are low and if the writers are going to be willing to put someone known as a designated hitter into the Hall, he needs to have numbers that knock your socks off. He had some impressive years and some solid production, but it was not sustained long enough to make a difference.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Tim Salmon

Tim Salmon
An outfielder that spent his entire 14 year career playing for the same team, though the team would change it’s name three times during that span, Tim Salmon grew up in Long Beach, was drafted by the Angels, made his major league debut for the team in 1992 and retired after the 2006 campaign. He is on the ballot for the first time.

Why He Should Get In
Salmon was the 1993 Rookie Of The Year and won a Silver Slugger award in 1995. He found himself in the top 15 of Most Valuable Player voting three times during his career. He finished with 299 home runs and 1016 runs batted in, while compiling a .282 batting average over his career.

Why He Should Not Get In
A star rookie and solid career do not ensure you a place in Cooperstown. Salmon was a good player for a franchise desperately searching for an identity, but he was not a stand out player across baseball. All of his counting numbers fall short of the standards for Cooperstown.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Alan Trammell

Alan Trammell
Trammell spent his entire twenty year career playing for the Detroit Tigers. His debut came in 1977 and he retired from the game in 1996. This is his tenth year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Trammell was one of the last great defensive short stops before the influx of guys that made the position an offensive juggernaut. Trammell would make five All Star appearances, four Gold Glove awards, three Silver Sluggers, and would garner MVP votes in seven different seasons. His 2,365 hits and 412 doubles with his .285 career batting average deserve a look.

Why He Should Not Get In
While his career was respectable, it begins getting overshadowed by the arrival of offensive minded shortstops that posted much better numbers in key categories. Had he been a bit more dominant in the defensive side of his game, it would help overcome his slightly low offensive numbers.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Rafael Palmeiro

Rafael Palmeiro
Palmerio enjoyed a long 20-year career in major league baseball, making his debut in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs and finishing it in 2005 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. This will be his second year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Palmeiro was a premier player throughout his career, compiling 569 home runs, 585 doubles, 1835 runs batted in and 3,020 hits. He would make four All Star appearances, three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards. His .288 career batting average is fairly high for a player known for his power stroke.

Why He Should Not Get In
The Steriod Era captures a lot of players, but few are tarnished as much as Palmeiro. When players were called in front of the United States Congress on the matter, Palmeiro was adamant that he had not and would not use performance enhancing drugs. That took place in March of 2005, his 3,000 hit came later that year, as did a positive test result that he to this day swears was a simple mistake. One of only four players in Major League history to collect both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, his final season in the league might harm him beyond repair.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Bill Mueller

Bill Mueller
The St. Louis native spent his 11 year career playing for four different franchises. His debut would come wearing the Giants uniform in 1996 and he would put the finishing touches on his career in 2006 as a member of their division rival Los Angeles Dodgers. This is his first year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Mueller was a defensive player that managed to show an offensive side to his game. In his short career, he would win a batting title in 2003 with the Red Sox and finish 12th in the Most Valuable Player voting that year as well. That season would also bring Mueller’s only Silver Slugger Award.

Why He Should Not Get In
Mueller’s career was shortened by injuries and therefore remained a bit lack luster. Though his career batting average was .291, that only equated to 1,229 hits and 493 runs batted in. A career that had a lot of promise, as often is the case, simply never materialized.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

With the Hall Of Fame election announcement coming on January 9, 2012, it is time to review the ballot, go over the names, and decide who belongs in the Hall Of Fame.

There are twenty seven men on the ballot this year and we will take a look at each one individually prior to official announcements. You can find all of the profiles in the I-70 Baseball Exclusives: Cooperstown Choices 2012 menu at the top of the page.

Tune in Saturday, January 7, 2012 as I-70 Baseball Radio will host a panel of writers discussing the Hall Of Fame Ballot in a 2-hour special.

In this article, we take a look at Dale Murphy

Dale Murphy
Murphy’s 18 year career would begin in 1976 as a member of the Atlanta Braves organization and come to a close in 1993 with the Colorado Rockies. Between he would spend a few years with the Philadelphia Phillies. This will be his 18th year on the ballot.

Why He Should Get In
Murphy is a unique case. His raw number show an above average but not superstar player. However, the accolades paint a different picture. He was a seven time All Star, five time Gold Glove winner, four time Silver Slugger, would lead the league in home runs and runs batted in twice each, and won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in 1982 and 1983. He does have over 2,000 hits and just shy of 400 home runs.

Why He Should Not Get In
This is a classic case of “a few good years does not make you great”. Murphy was outstanding and dominated pitching from 1982 through 1987. The rest of his career was average and the last few years were horrible. He may have been a great player for a short time, but that does not making him a Hall Of Fame player over the course of his career.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.