2024: Beltre, Mauer
2025: Ichiro, Sabathia
2026: n/a
2027: Posey
2028: Pujols, Molina
Pujols and Ichiro should be unanimous.
Beltre should also be first-ballot, as he is his position’s all-time leader in hits, RBI, and xbh. And he was a defensive stud.
I have Posey bias, but he was the leader of the Giants dynasty. He doesn’t need to wait.
Utley shouldn’t get in. Definitely not before Jeff Kent. And really, Utley’s career numbers are about the same as David Wright’s—though Wright was clearly better when healthy. Different position, but they’re worth comparing as non-1B infielders. And really, they’re not that far ahead of Ryan Zimmerman. (Though on any given day, Zimmerman is clearly third among the three.)
There’s no way Colon should get in with his 4.12 ERA. Felix Hernandez’s truncated career is more deserving, though he’s ultimately not a HOFer. Sabathia definitely is, though.
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