Congrats to the 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame Class!
The BBWAA ballots are in and the 2015 class has been determined. The Baseball Hall of Fame will enshrine first-rounders Randy Johnson (97.3% of the vote), Pedro Martinez (91.1%), John Smoltz (82.9%), as well as Craig Biggio (82.7%), who got the necessary 75% of the votes on his third try.
Randy Johnson (Mariners and Diamondbacks) went 303-166 with a 3.29 career ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 4875 strikeouts in 4135 1/3 innings. He won five Cy Young awards and finished second in the voting three other times. He led the league in strikeouts nine times, ERA four times, WHIP three times, wins once and winning percentage four times. He was also the co-MVP of the 2001 World Series.
Pedro Martinez (Dodgers, Expos, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies) went 219-100 over the course of 18 seasons. He had an impressive 2.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 3154 strikeouts in 2827 1/3 innings. He won three Cy Youngs and finished second two other times. He topped his league in ERA five times, WHIP six times, strikeouts three times, wins once and winning percentage three times. He was a member of the 2004 Red Sox, which won the World Series that year and broke the 86-year “Curse of the Bambino”.
John Smoltz (Braves, Red Sox and Cardinals) is the only MLB pitcher with over 200 wins and 150 saves. Smoltz spent almost his entire career with a dominant Atlanta Braves team (winning division titles an unprecedented 14 consecutive times from 1991-2005). He was a two-time All-Star as a closer and went six times as a starter, winning the 1996 Cy Young. Over the course of his career he went 213-155 with a 3.33 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 3084 strikeouts in 3473 innings. He had 154 saves in 169 chances, an impressive 91% success rate. Smoltz was also highly successful in the postseason with a 15-4 record, 2.67 ERA and four saves in 209 innings.
Craig Biggio (Astros) ranks 21st in career hits at 3060, fifth in doubles with 668, 15th in runs (1844), 33rd in total bases, 66th in stolen bases (414), as well as 18th in times on base. He was also selected for the All-Star game 8 times.
Congrats to the latest inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Well deserved by all!
