While MLB spreads will continue to draw plenty of attention throughout the summer months, the biggest event in the sport will also be held in July. The 2022 MLB Hall of Fame Induction ceremony is set to take place on July 24, and it will be a different type of ceremony this time around.
David Ortiz is the only inductee as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America, and that’s simply not usually the case. The voters clearly didn’t like the options when voting for the 2022 induction class, but Ortiz clearly stood out.
It requires 75% of the votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame, and Ortiz was able to slide past the MLB odds after receiving nearly 78% of the votes. What made this even more special for the slugger is the fact that he was able to get in on his first year on the ballot.
David Ortiz arrived in Boston at a time when the Red Sox had a World Series drought of 84 years. The big DH spent 14 seasons with the Red Sox and was a huge part of three World Series titles with the team.
In his first season in Boston, Ortiz finished the year with 31 homers and 101 RBIS and was also a huge force in the postseason. The 2003 season set the stage for the World Series title in 2004 in which Ortiz and the Red Sox battled back from an 0-3 deficit to get past the New York Yankees.
There were 30 former players on the ballot for voters back in 2021, and all of those players affected the MLB lines and during their playing days. Cheating allegations and steroid use continues to keep some players out of the Hall of Fame, but Ortiz was never accused of looking to gain an edge.
When people think of the designated hitter position, Ortiz is usually the player that most people think about. Ortiz belted 485 home runs as a DH, and finished his career with 541 home runs and 632 doubles.
Plenty of Golden Days Era Players
The baseball writers might have only chosen to elect one new member into the Hall of Fame, but that wasn’t the case with the Golden Days Era Committee. This group was formed as a way to honor some of the past players that might not have gotten proper recognition in their first runs on the ballot.
There were four players chosen by this committee, highlighted by Gil Hodges. Hodges was an eight-time All Star in Major League Baseball and was also a part of three World Series championship teams.
The former Brooklyn Dodgers star got his start in MLB all the way back in 1943, but his career took a short break as he went off to serve in World War II. Jim Kaat is another player that was selected by this committee after spending a remarkable 25 years in Major League Baseball.
Kaat spent 15 of those 25 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and won 16 Gold Glove Awards as a starting pitcher. Minnie Minosa and Tony Oliva were the other two players that were chosen by this committee.
Early Baseball Era Has Two Inductees
There were also two people chosen by the Early Baseball Era Committee, including baseball legend Buck O’Neil. O’Neil is not a player that ever got the chance to play in MLB, but he is well-known as one of the best Negro League stars of all-time.
Not only did O’Neil have a long career as a player, but he also spent some time coaching at the MLB level. When the Chicago Cubs hired him in 1962, O’Neil became the first black coach in Major League Baseball.
Buf Fowler is the final player to be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, and his career dates all the way back to the 19th century. Not much is known about his career, but he is remembered for playing defense with his bare hands.
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