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2010

The San Francisco Giants beat the Texas Rangers 4-games to 1 to win the World Series. It was the Giants’  first championship since 1954 and their first ever since moving to San Francisco. It was also the first time that the Rangers have played in the World Series. The Giants won the NL West with a record of 92-70, then beat the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies to make it to the Series. Texas won the AL West with a record of 90-72 and then beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and defending champion New York Yankees. The Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins also made the playoffs. Edgar Renteria was the World Series MVP, hitting .412 with 2-homers and 6-RBI’s. Tim Lincecum won the opener and the final game and Brian Wilson saved the finale, had 6-saves in the playoffs and only gave up one run in 11 2/3 innings (0.77 ERA). The League MVP awards went to Josh Hamilton of Texas and Joey Votto of Cincinnati.

The top players of 2010 also included:

Baseball Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Candidates: Eligible players

The baseball hall of fame began in 1936 and now has over 250 members, including over 200 players. Major league baseball began to be played in 1871 and there are still several players from the early days of the game who also deserve to be elected. The major leagues were segregated until Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947. Before that, black players played in the Negro leagues and the hall of fame has only recently gotten around to honoring the great negro league players.

Every year, the Baseball Writers Association (BBWA) votes on recently retired players ---In 2011, they elected second baseman Robby Alomar and pitcher Bert Blylevan. Alomar played 17 years in the major leagues and hit .300 with 210 home runs, 1,508 runs and 474 steals. He starred for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993 when they won back-to-back championships. Blyleven pitched 22 years in the majors and won 287 games.

With 436 votes needed for election, the following players were the leading vote-getters who didn't make the hall this time.

1. Barry Larkin (361) – Cincinnati Reds shortstop hit .295 with 198 homers, 1329 runs and 379 steals. 
2. Jack Morris (311) - 254 wins
3. Lee Smith (263) – Retired as all time saves leader with 478.
4. Jeff Bagwell (242) - .297, 449 homers and 1,529 RBI's.
5. Tim Raines (218) - .294, 808 steals, 1,571 runs.
6. Edgar Martinez (191) – Seattle Mariners third baseman/ DH hit .312 with 309 homers and 1261 RBI’s.
7. Alan Trammel (141) – Detroit Tigers shortstop hit .285 with 185 homers and 1231 runs scored
8. Larry Walker (118) - .313, 383 homers and 1,355 runs.
9. Mark McGwire (115) – 583 home runs including 70 in one season
10. Fred McGriff (104) - .284, 493 homers, 1550 RBI’s
11. Dave Parker (89) – .290, 339 homers and 1493 RBIs
12. Don Mattingly (79) – .307 batting average & 1099 RBIs
13. Dale Murphy (73) -  398 homers, 2-time MVP
14. Rafael Palmeiro (64) - .288, 569 homers, 1,835 RBI's, 3,020 hits.

Below are listed 45 players, including current players, old timers and players who are currently eligible for election who, in my opinion, should be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Still Active or Not Yet Eligible (Last Year Played). There is a 5-year wait before a retired player becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame. 

Old Timers – These are the players who for various reasons have been overlooked. They include forgotten players from the 1900’s like Deacon White, Jack Glasscock, Pete Browning, Bobby Mathews and Anthony Mullane, Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson who were banned from baseball for gambling, Carl Mays who accidentally killed another player with a bean ball and Gil Hodges, Maury Willls, Ken Boyer, Ron Santo, Dwight Evans, Tommy John and Jim Kaat --- great players who were also overlooked by the voters.