2012 is Chipper's final season...

[gnats67]

So now 2012 becomes one long protracted farewell tour. Bet he signs a lot more autographs. I'm a Chipper fan but his time to move on is upon us. Brings to mind Eddie Matthews last year in a Braves uniform. The end of a long hall of fame career.

[GGGT]

Originally Posted by gnats67

.............. The end of a long hall of fame career.

Yes, first ballot.

[gtphd]

I love Chipper, but he won't be a first ballot guy. Smoltz won't be one, either.

[gtzulu]

My Chipper anecdote:
I was a kid when I first saw him play with the Macon Braves. He was batting like .450 or something unreal. He stopped to give a few autographs to kids in the stands at one point. I was outside the crowd of autograph seekers and clearly wasn't going to get one, so I yelled "I'll give you five bucks for your autograph!" He heard me and said "Wow, five bucks, huh?" I didn't get his autograph. Not sure what the point of this story is, but I was embarrassed that I did that and it now seems like he didn't need my money after all.

[ContactBuzz]

Originally Posted by gtphd

I love Chipper, but he won't be a first ballot guy. Smoltz won't be one, either.

Agree. Although the premise of 'first ballot' HOF'er is ridiculous. Either you're a HOFer or you're not.

[cyptomcat]

Originally Posted by ContactBuzz

Agree. Although the premise of 'first ballot' HOF'er is ridiculous. Either you're a HOFer or you're not.

or you are a first ballot HOF'er, it's like first class

Kobe will be first ballot

[jacket1515]

Originally Posted by gtphd

I love Chipper, but he won't be a first ballot guy. Smoltz won't be one, either.

Disagree. The guy is one of the top 3 switch hitters of all time and he's also arguably one of the top 3 to 5 third basemen of all time.

He's a lock on the first ballot IMO.

With Smoltz I'm a little more hesitant to disagree. Much muddier waters since there's only been one guy even close to like him in baseball history, and even that's a stretch (Eckersley). Eckersley was a first ballot inductee. I think Curt Schilling will also be a test case for Smoltz due to his postseason success, since Schilling is very similar to Smoltz (without the relief years).

[gtphd]

The issue with being a first ballot HOFer is that there are a bunch of writers that will only vote for game-changing superstars on the first ballot. Eddie Mathews and Joe DiMaggio didn't even make it on the first ballot.

Chipper had a great career and is absolutely worthy of the Hall of Fame, but he's no Pujols or ARod.

[ContactBuzz]

Originally Posted by cyptomcat

or you are a first ballot HOF'er, it's like first class

Kobe will be first ballot

So, like, a HOF for HOFers. Ridiculous, I say.

[jacket1515]

Originally Posted by gtphd

The issue with being a first ballot HOFer is that there are a bunch of writers that will only vote for game-changing superstars on the first ballot. Eddie Mathews and Joe DiMaggio didn't even make it on the first ballot.

Chipper had a great career and is absolutely worthy of the Hall of Fame, but he's no Pujols or ARod.

First ballot HOFers in the last 10 years

Ozzie Smith
Eddie Murray
Paul Molitor
Dennis Eckersley
Wade Boggs
Cal Ripken
Tony Gwynn
Rickey Henderson
*Roberto Alomar (elected 2nd time on ballot, missed by 8 votes on first time)

Chipper has more WAR than everyone on the list except Henderson, Ripken, and Boggs.