Roberto Alomar

Roberto Alomar is considered one of the top five second baseman in the game. If he is one of the best, than why wasn’t he voted into the Hall of Fame in his first opportunity? Sure NY Yankees great Joe DiMaggio wasn’t voted in until his fourth try. Those who did not vote for him cited the 1996 spitting incident with home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck (who has forgiven him) and his lack of desire while he was with the NY Mets at the end of his career (2002-2003). His brother Sandy Jr, former teammate and Cleveland Indians catcher was upset about his little brother not being voted in. “I can’t believe it, because everyone thought he was going to be in. These days, you can’t drop the ball in any shape or form. If the writers are going to make an example out of Robbie, they’d better do it for everybody else…The spitting incident was ugly, but it was just a moment in the career of a guy who never did anything before or after. It’s not like he’s a guy who’s been in and out of jail every week.”

However Alomar’s numbers do not lie. He was a 12-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner at second base. His .984 fielding percentage is up there with Ryne Sandberg’s .989 and Joe Morgan’s .981 (all are HOF’s). He batted .300 with 2,724 hits during his 17-year career with seven teams. He came up through the San Diego Padres organization, debuting in 1988 and playing three years in San Diego before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays where he won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992-1993 (and he played five seasons with Toronto). “I do feel that Roberto Alomar is a Hall of Famer,” Andre Dawson said after he was the only player to be voted into the HOF in 2010. “What remained to be seen was whether the writers would put him in on his first ballot. He’s one of the greatest second baseman I ever saw play the game.”

Alomar is confident he will make up the votes in 2011. “I thought it would be cool to go in with him (Alomar) because I kind of watched him grow up when I played with his dad in Texas. Hopefully we’ll go in together next year now,” Bert Blyleven said after he just missed the cut of being inducted into the HOF too.

Barry Larkin

Barry Larkin is considered one of the best shortstops in the game and he revolutionized the position, playing with power and speed while also displaying great defense. He was a 12-time All-Star and he was a part of the 1990 Cincinnati Reds World Series title. He batted .295, accumulating 2,340 hits. He also stole 379 bases, had a career .371 on-base percentage, and hit 198 homeruns.

Larkin played his entire career (1986-2004) with his hometown Reds (which is uncommon in today’s sports world to play an entire career in one city). He won the National League MVP award in 1995. “I had the opportunity last year to talk to [2009 inductee] Jim Rice. He got in on the 15th try,” Larkin said. “He said there isn’t anything you can do. You’re just happy to be considered. The numbers are the numbers and you did what you did. There’s no going back to do anything different. If they decide to put me in, they’ll decide. It’s gratifying to be considered and an honor to be on the ballot. To be inducted would be even greater.”

We will see who makes the cut in 2011, as the new first-timers are not as decorated as the returning hopefuls.