Happy Opening Day!

What better way to celebrate today’s festivities than by unveiling the Notinhalloffame.com Baseball list of those to consider for the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2025?

You can see the entire list of 300 players here, but this is the new Top 10.

This is based on your votes, new entrants, and a blanket look at the candidates.

At #1 is Barry Bonds, the seven-time MVP and all-time leader in Home Runs.  The man was a hitting God but was beset with PED allegations and snubbed by both the Baseball Voters and Seniors.  Bonds may hold #1 on this list forever. 

Lather, rinse, repeat. Roger Clemens is the pitching equivalent of Bonds. He was the best hurler of his generation, but he has the same PED stink that Bonds does. He is ranked #2.

Alex Rodriguez did not fare well in the votes, but we kept him at #3.  The three-time MVP and statistical juggernaut was caught with PEDs, leading to two suspensions, but we are giving him a short leash next year.  If his voting numbers (by all of you) do not improve, he will plummet from his #3.

At #4 is another controversial figure, Pete Rose. The “Hit King” is banned from the Hall, but stranger things have happened (see Ohtani, Shohei), and a loud contingent wants him inducted.

At #5, the highest debut (and likely first-ballot inductee) is Ichiro Suzuki, who has more Hits than Rose if you combine the Japanese League.   Suzuki WILL become the first Japanese player to enter Cooperstown in 2025.

The #6 player is another banned player, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.  He was banned for allegedly participating in the 1919 “Black Sox” Scandal.

Career Detroit Tiger Infielder Lou Whitaker is at #7 and late-1800’s Pitcher Jim McCormick finally breaks the top ten at #8. 

The Top Ten concludes with Bill Dahlen and Dwight Evans.

You know what we want you to do!

Take a look at the names and cast your votes and opinions!

As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com thank you for your support.

Marcus Semien signed with the Texas Rangers after having a monstrous season in his lone campaign (2021) with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he finished third in MVP voting.  The Rangers would not have to wait long to see similar production in their new Second Baseman.

Semien had a decent 2022 (26 HR, .733 OPS) and was solid defensively. Last year, Semien went back to a previous level, leading the AL in Runs (122), Hits (185 and bWAR for Position Players (7.4)) with 29 Home Runs and 100 RBIs, and he had his best season defensively regarding his bWAR (2.3).  Named an All-Star, Silver Slugger and All-MLB 1 Selection, Semien was again third in MVP voting and, more importantly, led the Rangers to their first World Series Championship.

Last season, Semien had another good defensive year, marking the third straight season where he exceeded 1.6 in Defensive bWAR, though his offense slipped with a sub-.700 OPS.  Semien is apporiaching 35, but should have a lot of good baseball in him.

Adolis Garcia took a while to get going in the Majors, but he had a roar that was rougher than most.

From Cuba, Garcia signed with the Yomiyuri Giants in Japan, but that was short-lived as he defected to the United States and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.  He hardly played in St. Louis, playing only 21 ineffective Games in 2018, and was in the minors for the entirety of 2019.  The Texas Rangers purchased his contract, but 2020 was no better, and he began 2021 as a non-roster invitee.  Not only did Garcia make the team, he thrived.

Garcia, who was still Rookie of the Year eligible, finished fourth in a season where he smacked 31 Home Runs with 90 RBIs.  An All-Star, Garcia fanned 190 times, but in this era, that was not as alarming as it would have been only years earlier.  After a similar 2022 (27 HR, 101 HR), Garcia had his best season to date in 2023, where he added a second All-Star, belted 39 Home Runs with 107 RBIs, and had his first OPS over .800. (.836).  Garcia also added a Gold Glove and received modest MVP consideration, finishing 14^th.  That post-season, Garcia had 8 Home Runs, an OPS of 1.100 and won the ALCS MVP, where he had five of his eight taters.

Garcia was unable to follw that up in 2024, with his Home Run tally dropping to 25, with his OBP falling to an anemic .284.  If he can ragin his All-Star form, he will shoot up this list.

Corey Seager was the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series hero in 2020. On the same day that the Texas Rangers signed Marcus Semien to be their Second Baseman, they landed Seager, giving them the double-play tandem that few could rival. 

Seager had a solid debut campaign for Texas, earning All-Star honors and blasting 33 Home Runs, which was a personal best.  In 2023, Seager put forth 33 Home Runs again but had his best year to date 2ith a league-leading 42 Doubles and career-highs in the Slash Line: .327/.390/.623 and had his first OPS over one (1.012).  Not only was Seager an All-Star, but he also won his first Silver Slugger since 2017 and was the runner-up for the MVP, his highest finish.  As good as Seager was in the regular season, he had an incredible playoff, where he belted six Home Runs and won the World Series MVP.  

Seager had another excellent campaign in 2024, which brought him a third staright All-Star and 30 Home Run year.