People that voted Biggio last year, didn't the year

Maybe they thought he was 1st ballot, but not 2nd ballot quality.

Biggio will have no problem getting in on his 3rd ballot.

What idiot voted for Benitez?

Probably the same guy who voted for jacque jones. Those guys shouldn't even be on the ballot to begin with. Ridiculous

How do players get on the ballot? Is it just a matter of X number of years in the league, or is it a more subjective thing?

5 years after retirement you are on the ballot. If you get less than 5% of the vote at any time you will no longer be included on the ballot. You have 15 years to get elected and it takes 75% of the vote to win induction.

Yes, but surely not every player who has made an MLB box score gets on the ballot.

I believe it is play for 10 seasons gets you on.

Correct, if you played 10 years, then you'll at least get on the ballot your first year. I like that the writers are allowed to vote on everyone rather than some committee whittling the list down to determine who is worthy. The writers do a pretty good job of determining in that first year of who is worthy of being part of the conversation (although I'm still amazed that Will Clark only got one year on the ballot).

Fun fact that my buddy told me yesterday.

Glavine and Maddux are the first two SP's to be inducted into the HOF since 1972 whose careers began after 1972.

Basically the only pitchers that have gotten into the Hall in the last 40 years were guys whose careers started in the 50s/60s (or old guys let in by the VC) plus Eck, Goose and Sutter.

Eck was originally a starter and has over 150 wins in that role.

Yeah, but I don't think he was really elected for that reason. He was elected for being the fireballing closer of the 80s and early 90s.

I also left off Rollie Fingers.

Apparently LaRussa and Maddux both going in w/o a team. Didn't even know that was an option.

http://baseballhall.org/news/press-releases/cap-selections-announced-hall-fame-plaques-class-2014-inductees

LaRussa's decision makes sense. However, I only think of the Atlanta Braves when I picture Maddux; it's almost an afterthought that he played in Chicago.

Agree on Maddux and the Braves.

I'm really interested what Randy Johnson will do next year.