A Quick Look at the 2025 Classic Baseball HOF Ballot

by Paul Semendinger

November 2024

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The following players are up for discussion for inclusion into the Baseball Hall of Fame via the 2025 Classic Baseball Ballot:

Dick Allen

Ken Boyer

John Donaldson

Steve Garvey

Vic Harris

Tommy John

Dave Parker

Luis Tiant

Let's take a quick look at each:

Dick Allen: Allen's lifetime WAR of 58.7 puts him under the threshold of 60 widely considered to be the low standard for the Hall of Fame. I also like to see how a player ranks by WAR at his position. I like to see if he is one of the best players at his position all-time who is not yet enshrined in the Hall. Allen, though, played three positions: First Base (807 games), Third Base (652 games), and Left Field (256 Games). At First Base, Allen sits behind Keith Hernandez (60.3 WAR) and ahead of John Olerud (58.2). That doesn't scream "Hall of Fame." I'd argue for Hernandez at first before Allen. At Third Base, Allen Is below Sal Bando (61.5) and Robin Ventura (56.1) and is tied with Darrell Evans with 58.7 WAR. There are much more worthy candidates at third (Graig Nettles - 67.9) ahead of Allen. As a Left Fielder, he fares much better, only Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Manny Ramirez, and Sherry Magee rank above him there by WAR, but then again, Allen only played two seasons worth of games in Left Field.

A power hitter, Allen didn't hit 400 homers. He didn't have 1,200 RBIs. He didn't hit .300. He was not a gifted defender. His teams never reached a World Series. It was only at the end of his career that he even reached the one playoff series he appeared in. I do not believe Dick Allen is a Hall of Famer.

Ken Boyer - With 5 Gold Gloves, Boyer is considered one of the greatest defensive third basemen ever. He was also an 11 time all-star. Boyer's lifetime WAR of 62.8 puts him over the threshold. Boyer is the greatest third baseman by WAR not named Graig Nettles to not be in the Hall of Fame. Ken Boyer played on one World Series team, the 1964 World Champion Cardinals. Boyer is deserving of the Hall of Fame. If he gets in, the path for Graig Nettles (67.9 WAR) to also get in is very clear.

Steve Garvey - When Garvey played, everyone knew he was a future Hall of Famer, except, he wasn't and isn't. He was a 10 time All-Star and he won an MVP. Garvey also had lots of big post season moments. He was on five World Series teams (one was World Champion). Garvey's lifetime WAR, though is only 38.0. That's way low. Anthony Rizzo's is 39.8. Among first basemen, Garvey is way below Don Mattingly (42.4 , and not a Hall of Famer).

Tommy John - YES! I'll repost an article I wrote regarding Tommy John in the days to come. Yes, yes, and yes. Tommy John won 288 games. He had 62.1 WAR. On the Hall of Fame Monitor, he ranks # 86 all time as a starting pitcher. He had the surgery (his risk) that changed the sport and is named for him. He pitched 26 years (yes, there is something praiseworthy about that kind of longevity). He has the most wins since 1890 of any pitcher not in the Hall of Fame. YES to Tommy John.

Dave Parker - I want to say YES. Dave Parker was one of my favoriate players ever. I want to say that he was the National League version of Jim Rice, the feared power hitter. But, Parker, after starting out great, had a long down period that took away his chances. 40.1 WAR. Nope. He ranks 54th all time in right field. David Justice had a higher WAR for his career. So did J.D. Drew. So did Jack Clark, by a significant margin. Parker didn't hit .300. He didn't hit even 350 homers. He had an MVP. He had a World Championship (two actually). He had Gold Gloves. But he doesn't have a strong Hall of Fame case. Jim Rice was his superior (and Rice doesn't really belong in the Hall of Fame at that).

Luis Tiant - 65.6 WAR...he trumps Tommy John there. But he's 97th on the Hall of Fame Monitor for pitchers (John beats him there). 229 wins (a lot less than Tommy John). One World Series...

Luis Tiant is a legend. He had that classic wind-up. It's close with Tiant. He ranks right along with some great pitchers in WAR. He's not quite Don Sutton, but he's better than Roy Halliday and Juan Marichal. I sense he'll get in. If he does, he deserves it. Tommy John deserves it more, but Tiant is also a fine choice.

John Donaldson and Vic Harris - These were both players from the Negro Leagues. They both seem worthy. The biographies about each are impressive. They were both legends. They are both Hall of Fame worthy based on what I have read. I don't quite understand how they match up with the other players on the ballot as they played in a different era.

If I were voting, my ballot would include Ken Boyer, Tommy John, and Luis Tiant.