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Breaking Down The 2015 Baseball Hall Of Fame Class

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Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio are the four newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame after their election on Tuesday.

The three pitchers – Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz, who each earned election in their first year of eligibility, headline the four-man class of 2015. After falling just two votes shy of the 75 percent needed in 2014, former Houston Astros second baseman Biggio received 82.7 percent of votes, rightfully earning his place in Cooperstown in his third year of eligibility.

Johnson’s election was the biggest lock of all. The “Big Unit” dominated and intimidated hitters routinely throughout his 22-year career and will be remembered as one of the most feared players in the sport’s storied history. The 6-foot-10 power-throwing left-hander ranks second all-time to Nolan Ryan in strikeouts with 4,875, and his five Cy Young Awards, including four consecutive, trail only Roger Clemens.

At the age of 40 in 2004, Johnson became the oldest pitcher to ever throw a perfect game, and his 303 wins rank fifth-most all-time by a left-hander in MLB history.

Martinez is a full foot shorter than Johnson, but brought just as devastating a fastball. The three-time Cy Young Award winner won “only” 219 games during his illustrious 18-year career, but has the second-highest winning percentage in modern baseball history. Martinez’s WHIP is the lowest of any live-ball era starting pitcher in MLB history.

Smoltz’s career is one of the more unique in the long history of baseball. The former Atlanta Braves pitcher spent extended time as both a starter and a reliever. As a result, Smoltz is the only pitcher in MLB history with over 200 wins and 150 saves in his career. In 2008, the flame-throwing right-hander became the 16th member of the 3,000 strikeout club.

Biggio is one of the ultimate “gamers” in major league history. After failing to receive the necessary number of votes required in the first two years of his eligibility, the voters finally got it right. Biggio ranks No. 21 all-time in hits with 3,060, and is the ninth player to get all 3,000-plus of his hits with the same time.

Baseball Hall of Fame voting has become more controversial in recent years as players from the steroid era have started to become eligible for election. 2015 proved most writers’ mindsets remain unchanged from previous years as known PED users Barry Bonds, Clemens and Sammy Sosa fell well short of the 75 percent of the vote needed for election.

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