The latest MLB Hall of Fame class was announced this week, with two former stars joining the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.
Fred McGriff, a five-time All-Star who led the league in Home Runs twice and won a World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 1995, had already been informed he'd be getting a bust back in December. The 16-member Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee unanimously elected McGriff ahead of this week's vote.
Scott Rolen, the former Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman who won eight Gold Gloves, was named to seven All-Star teams, and was the only player selected on this year's ballot. Rolen is one of 35 hitters all-time with at least 2,000 hits, 300 homers, and 500 doubles, and is remembered as being one of the best defensive third basemen of all-time.
With this year's class announced, fans now turn their attention to what next year might look like. Specifically, fans are wondering which of the great players they grew up watching might join McGriff, Rolen and the countless other MLB legends in Cooperstown.
Twins fans don't have to look hard.
Joe Mauer will see his name appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2024. It's something that should bring endless amounts of joy to Twins fans all over, while also making us feel a little old. It seems like yesterday that Mauer was making his debut at the Metrodome, or trotting out under the night sky at Target Field.
To be fair, Mauer didn't retire that long ago. He played his last game on September 30, 2018 and retired in November. MLB players must be retired for at least five years before they can appear on Hall of Fame ballots, but Mauer's eligibility is more than just technical.